1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: All right, Rangers special assistant and former Big Lea catcher 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: Nick Hunley joining us right now. Nick, great to have 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: you on the show. And of course you've got the 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: AJ Kratz Day, so you've got a lot of catchers 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: on this screen. How you doing and welcome. 6 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 2: I'm great. I'm not coming on if he's not Catcher day. 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: So we lined it up. 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 3: Every day is catch your day on here. Nick. By 9 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 3: the way, just definitely everybody catch your day. 10 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 2: That's why you guys are going off, you know. 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: Just about just about every day. Okay, So Nick, first off, 12 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: busy little time period for you. Just now, how was 13 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: some of the interview processes going for you during this time? 14 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: And then you know, how do you wind up back 15 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: to where you are right now? I know for you 16 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: when you've been weighing things some of it it definitely 17 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: has been based on what you're looking at, location, family, 18 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: the whole deal. So would love to get your tape. 19 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's been a while month for sure. 20 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 4: Never really thought about managing until about a month ago 21 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 4: when Buster called me said I'd love for you to 22 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 4: come get some experience go through this process with us 23 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 4: in San fran I love the Bay, Love Buster, the 24 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 4: type of is the leader, one of my favorite teammates 25 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 4: of all times. So I was like, yeah, let's let's 26 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 4: go through it. He got pretty serious there, and we 27 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 4: had to make a decision as a family, Hey, with 28 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 4: this work would it at this stage with my with 29 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 4: my girls there twelve and nine and it's such an 30 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 4: awesome time to be with them, Uh, take them to school, 31 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 4: tuck them in, hang out, so you know, went a 32 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 4: different route, went through a couple of days of I 33 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 4: don't know if it's called morning or what, but I 34 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 4: was like, man, was that that was an awesome opportunity 35 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 4: up there. But you know, love love everything about san 36 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 4: Fran and Buster, And then went through this Padres process 37 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 4: a couple a couple of weeks and that was that 38 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 4: was great to go through too, And you know, so 39 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 4: good good experience for sure, but really figuring out what 40 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 4: you want to do and where you want to go 41 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 4: with your career. It's been it's been a good month. 42 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 3: All right, Dick. So I got asked, did you actually 43 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 3: get an offer? And what did you do so right? 44 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 3: Because Kratz is begging for a job, so he wants 45 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 3: to know what you did so right so he can 46 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 3: get these interviews because he can't get an interview. So 47 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 3: what did you do so right? And did the giants 48 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 3: actually offer you the job? Because if they did, man, 49 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 3: you're impressive you turned it down. 50 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 2: No, I think Kratz is doing a great job. Where 51 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: is that? I think you're you're in a great spot. 52 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: You know. 53 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 4: I had a lot of conversation with Buster. They never 54 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 4: offered me the job. I ended up taking myself out 55 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 4: of it before before that and just had to be 56 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 4: honest with them. 57 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: I didn't want to. 58 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 4: I didn't want to go up there and uh and 59 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 4: continue the process if if they offered me, and I 60 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 4: wasn't going to be all in and accepted. 61 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 2: So I told him, Hey, if if. 62 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 4: I go up there and meet with the you uh 63 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 4: another couple of times, I'll take it if you offer 64 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 4: it to me. But if i'm if I'm not one 65 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 4: hundred percent, I'm not going to come up there and 66 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 4: take and uh continue this process. 67 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: So No, never got to that stage. 68 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 4: But it was it was It was interesting to go 69 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 4: through and and tough to tough to pull out of 70 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 4: it for sure. 71 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 5: Right, Well, we only work in facts on this show, 72 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 5: and what Aj was just spitting was not facts, so 73 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 5: I could care less about that job. You are at 74 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 5: the same stage as I am. You want to be 75 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 5: home with the kids, and we don't. We don't all 76 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 5: have the popularity that AJ had to be able to 77 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 5: just be front and center and be the prancing pony. 78 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 5: We were kind of the backup guy that just you know, 79 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 5: kind of kind of learned the roast behind the scenes, right. 80 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 4: Nick, Yeah, you know, it takes a lot to be 81 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 4: able to go out there and play every day. I 82 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 4: was fortunate to do it a couple of years of 83 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 4: my career, not as many as AJ, but you know, 84 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 4: I really really enjoyed that. 85 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 2: And uh, you know, I'm glad. I'm glad he's on 86 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 2: TV now. 87 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 4: When I was playing, people used to say he had 88 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 4: a face for radio, but I disagreed. I said, hey, 89 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 4: you know, if there's one guy that can be on TV, 90 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 4: it's him. Just don't put him next to better looking 91 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 4: people in him. And they didn't listen because Waine Wright 92 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 4: and those guys were way better looking to him. 93 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 5: But that's all right, Okay, Well that's why they got 94 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 5: me on the show, because now he is definitely the 95 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 5: second best looking guy on this show, and I'm third 96 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 5: so it's fine, but I want to know the difference 97 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 5: between the two managerial interview process or like the steps 98 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 5: that you got to. The giants are at a different 99 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 5: stage and the padres are Busters your buddy. I mean, 100 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 5: I know, I know the affinity that Buster had because 101 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 5: the year after the year after you left San fran 102 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 5: I came into San fran He wanted you to come back. 103 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 5: They didn't want you back. They went and got a 104 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 5: rental in me. So I know how much Buster likes 105 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 5: you as a person. So you're going to get a 106 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 5: You're going to an interview essentially with a buddy. Then 107 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 5: you're going in an interview with the pot who, like, 108 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 5: I mean a J. Peler is there, he's been he's 109 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 5: been a GM forever. How different was that process and 110 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 5: were they asking any significantly different questions that you were. 111 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 6: Like, Oh, I didn't really think about that. 112 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, So you know, they offered me a minor league 113 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 2: deal coming back. 114 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 4: I just told him, Hey, thanks, I feel like we've 115 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 4: been you know, married for two years and you want 116 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 4: me to date you again. So I said, I'm not 117 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 4: not coming back on that deal. You know, Thankfully they 118 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 4: got somebody good or you know, to come back in 119 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 4: and be better than me and you cratzy and went 120 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 4: to Oakland. So the managerial side, in terms of differences, 121 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 4: I think they're both in very similar spots. I mean, 122 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 4: they're both really good organizations, have have had a lot 123 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 4: of success in the past, both looking to get over 124 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 4: the hump, both spending money, have have all star players, 125 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 4: both ready to try to go win. So from a 126 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 4: strategy standpoint, it was pretty similar in terms of, Hey, 127 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 4: what do you think we need to do in the 128 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 4: off season, what do we think, uh, this organization needs 129 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 4: to get over with hump? Who would you bring in 130 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 4: staff wise? What are some non negotiables? You know, all that, 131 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 4: very very similar things. The leadership styles, just trying to 132 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 4: you know, get comfortable. And I think kind of how 133 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 4: kind of how a J and the and uh and 134 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 4: the Potter is one about hiring Craig Stamon was probably 135 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 4: very similar to the comfort level that I have with 136 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 4: Buster in San fran You know, he had been a 137 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 4: padre for a long time playing and then been in 138 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 4: the front offs with them, So I think that was 139 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 4: a great, great hire on that end. And uh, and 140 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 4: he's gonna do a good job because there's a lot 141 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 4: of film familiarity there. 142 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 3: First of all, the fact that you insult me after 143 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 3: Brian Anderson is one of your best friends on Earth. 144 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 3: That's insulting everybody involved. Okay, because that's. 145 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: Did he tell you that? 146 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 3: Hey, there's there's both sides every I'm just telling you 147 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 3: used to guy. You guys used to go to meet 148 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 3: market all the time in Tucson and hang out. I 149 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 3: don't even know what that means. But I'm just saying 150 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 3: I don't even know what that is, but I'm just 151 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 3: saying that. 152 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: He's lucky if I text him back, just let him know. 153 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 3: Good. Okay, Well that's that makes two of us, so 154 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 3: thank you. But now you brought it up. You brought 155 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 3: up Stamman, right, So Stammon was in the interview process 156 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 3: where you're going through it and then he gets hired 157 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 3: as then as the manager. Like is that knowing the 158 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: answers to the test, because was Preller like, well, we 159 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 3: tried all these other guys and now, oh, Craig, you've 160 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 3: been in the interview. Why don't we ask you the 161 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 3: same questions and you know the answers, So let's see 162 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 3: if you can do that. Like that was one of 163 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 3: the things that confused me was if he was in 164 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,559 Speaker 3: the interview process and then he becomes a manager. Doesn't 165 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: that seem like he already knew the answers to the questions. 166 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 4: You know what, That seems a little off. But I've 167 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 4: known Craig for a long time, and he actually called me, 168 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 4: uh after he got the job and apologized for the 169 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 4: for that and uh, you know, I have a lot 170 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 4: of respect for him, and I know the timeline of it. 171 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 4: I know they asked him to interview. He initially declined 172 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 4: was uh was on the on the zoom calls with 173 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 4: me and and the other candidates and went through that process, 174 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 4: and then they asked him again and he said yes. 175 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 4: So I totally understand that it looks a little weird 176 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 4: from the outside, but talking to him, he's a guy 177 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 4: that I trust. I know who he is, I know 178 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 4: who he believes in, and you know, I know for 179 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 4: sure that he wouldn't do something like that. 180 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: This episode of FT is brought to you by Square. 181 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: Your favorite neighborhood spots run on Square. 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Square see you in the neighborhood again. 202 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: That's Square dot com, slash go, slash foul to learn more. 203 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 5: All right, last question for you. The hiring that Buster 204 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 5: ended up having going to get by Tello somebody with 205 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 5: zero big league experience as ex players, you sit there 206 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 5: and you go. But for me, when I was asked 207 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 5: when he first got hired, I said, if Buster wants 208 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 5: to hire him. 209 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 3: I'm all on board. 210 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with you. 211 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 4: I think Buster has as good a feel as anybody 212 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 4: there is in the game, and I think he's kind 213 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 4: of shortchanged by how good he was. 214 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 2: Honestly, he is so such a good baseball player and. 215 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 4: So talented that his vision and his knowledge, I mean, 216 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 4: how many no hitters did he catch? How many perfect games? 217 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 4: The stuff that he does? The field got. 218 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 2: Tough. 219 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 3: I caught a perfect game. I caught a no hitter. 220 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 3: I caught a perfect game. I mean, I'm not a 221 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 3: president of baseball off, I caught one. He caught more 222 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 3: perfect games than me. I caught one. I caught a 223 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 3: no hitter. Okay, so we're even. So why am I 224 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 3: not president of baseball off? I can hire you, Nick, 225 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 3: I wouldn't. I'd hire someone else, but I would at 226 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 3: least interview. 227 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, I wouldn't hire you. Use my president of baseball 228 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 4: ops either. 229 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 3: That is crap. Because I have a perfect game and 230 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 3: I have a no hitter, So that is crap. 231 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 4: Oh A. 232 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 3: J wants your job, Get aj a job. I'm actually listen. 233 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 3: That's why. 234 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 4: That's why my phone stinks. I'm driving to the GM 235 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 4: meetings right now, going to Vegas driving to the desert. 236 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 4: So I'll go lobby for you. Text me your resume, 237 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 4: a I'll go talk to the thirty gms and presidents 238 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 4: and uh, you know I want other things than your 239 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 4: stats too, because I can look at your stats. 240 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 2: I don't care about how you have any home runs. 241 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 4: Give me all year, give me your resume, and I'll 242 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 4: send it to you. 243 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 3: Here. Here's here's what it is, Nick, here's my resume. 244 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 3: Check my baseball reference. That's it. What do you mean 245 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 3: that's not a resume. If he just said Buster Posey 246 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 3: gets less value because he caught a no hitter in 247 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 3: a perfect game, well then we're on the same level. 248 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 2: No, he gets dings for it. 249 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 4: He doesn't get no credit how smart he is because 250 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 4: of how good a baseball player he was, Like he 251 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 4: was such a talented player. He was so talented. Everybody's like, oh, 252 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 4: he's just really good. Like no, he's like super visionary, 253 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 4: super bright, sees the game incredibly well, knows people like 254 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 4: just because he's. 255 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: More talent than everybody else. 256 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 4: I feel like he doesn't get enough credit in terms 257 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 4: of his vision and his and his knowledge. 258 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 2: So if he hire. 259 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 3: State is going to Florida State, like going to Arizona 260 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 3: like dings you the wrong way? Or does that dingy 261 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 3: be down or up? 262 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:04,839 Speaker 6: Yeah? 263 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 4: No, it's like the Harvard of the Southeast, just like 264 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 4: two songs of Harvard of the Southwest. 265 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, okay, okay again Brian Anderson went to Arizona. Let's 266 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 3: let's slow that role, let's slow that roll down. 267 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 4: That's because he got in tuition. 268 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: He lived right there. 269 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 3: True. 270 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: Hey, we got to jump too. I know you do too. 271 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 1: The last thing, Nick, when you're passing out AJ's resume, 272 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: show the owners how many followers and subscribers his show has. 273 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 1: Maybe that will help his cause. True if they're unaware 274 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: of of foul laratory, Well. 275 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 4: Next time I will phone will cut out ten times. 276 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 3: Well, we'll do it, yes, And also make sure you 277 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 3: tell how many perfect games and new hitters I almost had, 278 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,839 Speaker 3: because then I mean, gosh, yeah, it's done. Well you almost. 279 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 4: Hey, you tried to mess up. You tried to mess 280 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 4: up the one you had? Yeah, I box up all 281 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 4: the backstops. 282 00:12:57,920 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 3: True, but I didn't. But I didn't. 283 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:05,199 Speaker 2: You didn't remember. 284 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 3: Skillet. I always had the skillet back here Icond knocked 285 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 3: at your hope. 286 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 1: Sorry, Nick, This was great. Thank you for joining us. Yes, 287 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: when you're not mobile, we'll get you back. Okay, I 288 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:17,559 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed it. 289 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 2: Man, Yeah, sorry about that. Thanks Fellas. 290 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: Time to talk raise their offseason to do list with 291 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 1: Mark Hopkins, who's been covering the race for the Tampa 292 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: Bay Times for a long time, and the topper. It's 293 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: great to see you. The way we play this game 294 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: is you lay out the three for us, and then 295 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: we'll ask you some follow ups and try and dissect 296 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: what the race should do versus what they will do. 297 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: So the floor is yours, my friend. 298 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 6: Fair Fair. 299 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:47,839 Speaker 7: Oh, they got to do something about the outfield. There's 300 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 7: not enough offense in the outfield. They were thirtieth in 301 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 7: home runs, twenty sixth in ops, twenty seventh in RBI. 302 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 7: They've got to find some more thump in the outfield, 303 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 7: and then they've got to find it. This is funny 304 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 7: because the Rays are usually deep and starting pitching. They 305 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 7: traded two away this year in July, Tys Bradley and 306 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 7: Zach Lyttel, but they need to prove and starter. There's 307 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 7: just too much uncertainty about Shane McClanahan to count on 308 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 7: him to be their anchor. So I think they're going 309 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 7: to need to go find a veteran starter. And this 310 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 7: is a little offbeat here, but they've got to kind 311 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 7: of get adjusted. They've got to hope that Tropicana Field 312 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 7: gets finished and that they get back there. It was 313 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 7: a very disruptive year last year for the Rays, obviously 314 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 7: as a result of the hurricane. Because of the damage 315 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 7: to the trop they ended up playing at Steinberger Field. 316 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 7: You know, great hats off to the Yankees for making 317 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 7: that work for them, but they were not at home. 318 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 6: They were not comfortable there. 319 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 7: I think, you know, in retrospect they realized it kind 320 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 7: of wore them down with just how the heat and 321 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 7: everything worked. So those are kind of their three things. 322 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 7: Number three obviously not as much in their control as 323 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 7: the first two. 324 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 5: All right, well, let's go to outfield offense, because the 325 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 5: last I checked outfield offense in the free agent market 326 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 5: cost a lot of money. We're gonna hear the whole like, oh, 327 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 5: they offered Kyle Tucker this really neat contract. I get that, 328 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 5: But how do they how do they how do they say, Okay, 329 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 5: we're gonna go and get this outfield offense. Are they 330 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 5: hoping that some of their outfield will stay healthy and 331 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 5: have a resurgence or is this something that you think 332 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 5: they will actually go out and find it on the 333 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 5: market or even on the trade market. 334 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 7: I think it's gonna be more of the latter. Pratzy. 335 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 7: I mean, Josh Low can do better. Josh Low had 336 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 7: another rough year. I got hurt right at the start, 337 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 7: and that I think was a big factor. But you know, 338 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 7: Josh Low of a couple of years ago with an 339 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 7: eight hundred plus ops and the you know, some incredible stats. 340 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 7: I think the line on that was the only player 341 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 7: better that year was Akunya if you parch the stats 342 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 7: the right way. So Josh Low has got to do more. 343 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 7: That's the internal improvement there. But they just had too 344 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 7: many complimentary type players last year. They're playing Jake Mangham, 345 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 7: They're playing Chandler, Simpson, cam My there. For the first 346 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 7: half of the year. They were guys that were good 347 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 7: defensive players, but it didn't have a lot of power, 348 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 7: didn't get on base a ton that got better, Mangum 349 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 7: obviously got better at that. Simpson with the great speed 350 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 7: Misther just got DFA. So that kind of shows you 351 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 7: that you know, he didn't fit in anymore. Christopher Morell 352 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 7: didn't really do a lot. 353 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 6: Now. 354 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 7: Johnny de Luca was hurt almost all year. He played 355 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 7: only nineteen games. Richie Pelasios is a guy they were 356 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 7: counting on. Could play in field or outfield. But you 357 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 7: know they're not going to go get Randy Rose Arena back. 358 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 7: But that's the kind of bat you need ideally, right, 359 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 7: You had that guy a couple of years ago. Somebody 360 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 7: who can hit the ball out of the park and 361 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 7: drive the ball in the gap. Put some fear in 362 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 7: the opposing pictures. I just don't know they're going to compete. 363 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 7: They're not going to sign Kyle Tucker, They're not gonna 364 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 7: get Bellinger. You know they're not going to be at 365 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 7: the top of the market Grisham, But you know, they 366 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 7: find their way to find these guys sometimes and sometimes 367 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 7: it works out. 368 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 6: Sometimes it doesn't. 369 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 7: But it maybe somebody we've never heard of it, Maybe 370 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 7: somebody who needed a second chance, change of scenery. 371 00:16:57,840 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 6: That type of situation is my sense. 372 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: Krats pop quiz what has thirty five grams of protein, 373 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: six grams of fiber, twenty seven essential vitamins and minerals 374 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: comes in excellent flavors like of course chocolate, vanilla, but chocolate, 375 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: peanut butter my favorite, no added sugar, gluten free, under 376 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: five dollars per meal, and is ready to drink. 377 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 5: Go out of the house, get yourself a Huel. 378 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 3: Look at you. 379 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 5: You even have one right there, ready to smack that 380 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 5: John h Chocolate, peanut butter, chocolate and vanilla Delicio cells. 381 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: Also, there is a new Daily Greens ready to drink 382 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: forty two vitamins, minerals and superfoods. Only twenty five calories 383 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: on that one, four grams of fiber. There's flavors like blueberry, apple, peach. 384 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: Huel makes healthy eating simple. They also just launched into 385 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 1: Target stores nationwide. Try both products today with fifteen percent 386 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: off your purchase for new customers with the codefoul at 387 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: huel dot com slash foul. Use that code foul and 388 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 1: fill out the post checkout to help support f t. 389 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 3: All right, Well, he'allfield's one thing, but you mentioned starting pitching. 390 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 3: On the other thing. The Rays are always great at 391 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 3: finding pitching, and you just mentioned did it go out 392 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 3: and find this guy or that guy? How have the 393 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 3: Rays now found enough starting pitching? Because that's always been 394 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 3: their thing. They find relievers and they find enough pitching 395 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 3: to sustain them and then well do we get enough offense? 396 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 3: So how have they not found enough starting pitching? 397 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 7: Or they find relievers and turn them into starters. Right, 398 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 7: They did that with Zach Lttel and that worked out 399 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 7: pretty good for them, at for Zak because. 400 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 6: He's gonna make the money this last season. 401 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 7: But yeah, look, I think they're just they traded two 402 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 7: guys away. So if you assume that the Rays are 403 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 7: usually and still are really smart in the pitching department, 404 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 7: they must have had their reasons. We'll tell had an 405 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 7: expiring contract, that was one thing, but trading Tys Bradley. 406 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 7: They just don't know about mcclatahan. That's been a big blow. 407 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 7: He hasn't pitched in April of twenty three. He's supposedly 408 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 7: going to go to camp healthy, but he hasn't pitched 409 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 7: a game since April of twenty three. 410 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 6: So even if he's. 411 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 7: Perfectly healthy and over that, how much can you count 412 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 7: on him to do this season? So they're gonna come 413 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 7: back with Drew Rasmussen, who's coming off a great year, 414 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 7: you know, came back from that third significant elbow surgery. 415 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 7: Kyle Snyder said, he's probably the only pitcher that's come back. 416 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 7: It wasn't a third Timmy John, but it was pretty close. 417 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,439 Speaker 7: Come back and had a great year. Ryan Pepio had 418 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 7: a pretty good year. E Ra in the mid to 419 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 7: high threes. Shane Boz he looks like he had a 420 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,640 Speaker 7: pretty good year. But Eddi Ra was pushing five. And then, 421 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 7: like I said, mcclanahan's at uncertainty. You've got Joe Boyle 422 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 7: who's been, you know, very inconsistent. Ian Seymour did well 423 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 7: and an opportunity wasn't probably expected to get last year. 424 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 7: But there's not enough depth there. They need a kind 425 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 7: of a veteran guy. I mean, maybe they bring Adrian 426 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 7: Hauser back. I've heard maybe they talked to Zach Zach 427 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 7: Efflin who was here before. I'm sorry, mixed up my 428 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 7: Zach's for a second. Zach Efflin was here a few 429 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 7: years ago and they traded him to the Orioles. He's 430 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 7: a free agent now, was obviously a great fit when 431 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 7: he was here. So you know, maybe one of those 432 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 7: rebound guys short term deal that type of situation. I 433 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 7: think they'll find somebody aj But yeah, it is a 434 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 7: bit surprising that they don't really have that pipeline going 435 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 7: right now from the minor leagues I had in the past. 436 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 6: And maybe they go get Joe Ryan back they had him. 437 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 6: That'd be an interesting trade. 438 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 5: I never thought i'd say this on The show Man. 439 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 5: They can't wait, the Rays can't wait to get back 440 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,399 Speaker 5: into the trap. They're looking forward to the trop do 441 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 5: any do you have any new info? Obviously we're not 442 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 5: driving by, we're not driving by the stadium right now. 443 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 3: Is it going to be ready? 444 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 5: Is there a fear that they have to play a 445 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 5: few more games up until May in Steinbrenner again, although 446 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 5: the Yankees said we're not doing this is a one 447 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:39,640 Speaker 5: year thing. 448 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 7: I mean, I think right now, as we sit here 449 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 7: today on November tenth, the people that are in charge 450 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 7: of this seem to feel pretty good that it's going 451 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 7: to be ready. They were very fortunate. The whole obviously 452 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 7: area was very fortunate. No hurricanes this year that hit 453 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 7: the area. There wasn't a ton of rain, there wasn't 454 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 7: a lot of bad weather. I mean, there's some videos 455 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 7: out there, these guys up there on the roof. I mean, 456 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 7: they talk about being a challenging job, these guys climbing 457 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 7: up the roof, having to basically sow the pieces together. 458 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 7: It's done in panels. There's twenty four panels as of 459 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 7: Friday nineteen. We're up, so a j I'll help you 460 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 7: with that. Five to go and then you know, they've 461 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 7: got to work from there going forward. Once they get 462 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 7: the roof on that, all the inside work starts right. 463 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 7: They've got new turf, they've got to replace some seats. 464 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 7: Almost everything that was you know, hit by waters damage 465 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 7: has got to be replaced. You know, some of the 466 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 7: walls water leaked all over the place. So there's a 467 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,159 Speaker 7: ton of work to do inside. But there seems to 468 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,639 Speaker 7: be a pretty good confidence that they're going to be ready. 469 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 7: They're supposed to play April sixth. MLB has them on 470 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,120 Speaker 7: the road for the first nine games, and they come 471 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 7: home and I'll play the Cubs and the Yankees. I'm 472 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 7: not sure playing the Cubs have made the most sense, 473 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 7: because if you had to flip it, you probably should 474 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 7: have been playing another Al East team there, so you could, hey, 475 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 7: we'll play up at your place and you come back 476 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 7: here later. But their plan is to be ready to 477 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 7: go April six. I'm sure you guys will be here 478 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 7: A j gonna come over. 479 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I'll be there. Why wouldn't I be. It's the 480 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 3: day after Easter because Easter is April fifth, So absolutely, 481 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 3: as long as you get me tickets STOPPERR. But I 482 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 3: can't count that far ahead. As you mentioned, my math 483 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 3: is awesome. So what I want to know, though, is 484 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 3: there's a new owner in town, Patrick Zlovski. What have 485 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 3: we heard anything from him, because I haven't really seen 486 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 3: much from him, and what he's gonna do. And where 487 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 3: is there going to be a new stadium? Because Orlando 488 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 3: still would love to give a stadium, although I think 489 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 3: that's kind of dead now. But have we heard anything 490 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 3: about a new stadium? We're talking Trump here, but we 491 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 3: have a new owner, a new ownership group, and a 492 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 3: new hopefully hope for a new stadium. Can you give 493 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 3: us some details on that? 494 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean there's been one media session with the 495 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 7: new ownership group. 496 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 6: Was a couple three or four weeks ago. 497 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 7: Well it's early October, so I guess it was about 498 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 7: a month ago actually, and they came out pretty strong 499 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 7: and Patrick Zelewski the head guy, and they ken Babby 500 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 7: who owns the Jacksonville and Akron Minor League teams is 501 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 7: gonna be the CEO and he's gonna kind of be 502 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 7: the day to day guy. But they came out and 503 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 7: said they are looking for a new stadium. It's gonna 504 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 7: they want to be just like the Battery. They want 505 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 7: a hundred acres which is pretty pretty big, larger than 506 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 7: the Battery, and they want to have it open for 507 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 7: the twenty twenty nine season. And they admitted that was 508 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 7: aggressive and maybe audacious, and it's definitely ambitious, all those things, 509 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 7: all the A words, because that's gonna be pretty hard 510 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,199 Speaker 7: to get done. I mean, you got to build it, 511 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 7: and it's gonna have a roof fixed the roof, not 512 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 7: a retractable. 513 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 8: So that also means. 514 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 5: Mark your froze there still with us? 515 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 3: Oh back, now, we were just line. 516 00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: You guys hear me too? 517 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, I hear you, just me and you Now 518 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 5: that's good. 519 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 1: All right, We'll get to Topper one second. 520 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 5: Working on I have to ask I have to ask 521 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 5: Topper because the Rays are always smarter than us. The 522 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 5: Rays are always smarter than us, especially in pitching. Well, the. 523 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 4: League is. 524 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:29,360 Speaker 1: Catching up via copy cutting, and they've been poached more 525 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 1: than any team in ORG probably in baseball over the 526 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: past fifteen years or so, right, I would say that 527 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: probably a good case. 528 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 6: All right, top, we got you back. 529 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: The last we miss Like the second portion, I would 530 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: say probably at the A. 531 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 6: So they want to open a stadium for the twenty 532 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 6: nine season. They want it to be like the Battery 533 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 6: in Atlanta. 534 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 7: They're looking for one hundred acre site would be bigger 535 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 7: than the Battery. 536 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:53,440 Speaker 6: One that seems to fit. 537 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 7: That would literally be right next to Steinbrenner Field where 538 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 7: the Hillsboro Community College or Hillsborough College is now called 539 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 7: it known we right across Raymond James Stadium. Be kind 540 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 7: of like a Philadelphia thing. You'd have a bunch of 541 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 7: stadiums there all together. There's some other possibilities as well. 542 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 7: They said there's some sites that probably people aren't aware 543 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 7: of that also would fit that. It's been really quiet. 544 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 7: I agree with you, it's surprisingly there hasn't been more sad. 545 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 7: But I think what we're hearing, you know, through some backgrounds, 546 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 7: is they're having a ton of meetings, they're trying to 547 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 7: work on this, and you know they're gonna have to 548 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 7: have a site picked here. I would you know, I'm 549 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 7: not great at math here like aj but also, like 550 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 7: you know, they're gonna have to get started here sometime 551 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 7: early in twenty six. If they're gonna have this thing 552 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:34,360 Speaker 7: open for twenty nine, I would think. 553 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 5: All right, well, the Rays are always smarter than all 554 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 5: of us. So maybe they have the idea of why 555 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 5: getting rid of Pete fa Fairbanks for eleven million dollars 556 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 5: was a good idea. Is there something that we don't 557 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 5: know because normally when you see the Rays not keep 558 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 5: a picture or trade for a picture, you did look 559 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 5: back and you go, Okay, well, shoot, we shouldn't have 560 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 5: gotten rid of that guy, or wait, what's wrong? 561 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 3: Would the get rid. 562 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 5: Of them because there's eleven million dollars for a closer 563 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 5: in the big leagues too much? 564 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 7: I think that's a fair conclusion. I think that's a 565 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 7: fair conclusion Crassy to make that they felt that way. 566 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 7: I know what Ertoney Anders said and talking to him 567 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 7: the other night was that, you know, they feel like 568 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 7: they've got a lot of death in the bullpen. We 569 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 7: know they in the past have liked to use the 570 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 7: closure by committee when you know, ever since Fairbanks signed 571 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 7: that contract for the last three years he was pretty 572 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 7: much the guy. 573 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 6: But they've got a chance now to mix it up. 574 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 7: They've got Griffin Jackson, they've got Avenue set up, they've 575 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 7: got Clevenger, They'll have Manny Rodriguez at some point back 576 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 7: during the year. 577 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 6: So I think you're gonna see him go back to that. 578 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:41,719 Speaker 7: But yeah, I think the way Neander explained it was 579 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 7: at that much money, they don't they're not expecting the 580 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 7: payroll increased. And one thing that Patrick Zelewski said, they 581 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 7: said they were to not interfere with fishball operations, but 582 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 7: he also did say that, you know, the revenue stream 583 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 7: doesn't change until they get a new stadium build. It 584 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 7: doesn't change just because they have new owners. So I 585 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 7: thought that was a a telling comment that they weren't 586 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 7: going to just come in and double the payroll or 587 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 7: anything like that. So I do think that they're going 588 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,879 Speaker 7: to be in that eighty million or so range again. 589 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 7: And the way Neander made it explained, it made it 590 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 7: sound was that to carry that money as a reliever, 591 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 7: they feel like they could spend that money in other areas. 592 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 7: We just talked about getting a back for the outfield, 593 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 7: talking about getting a starting pitcher. He we also thought 594 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:24,640 Speaker 7: why not pick it up and then trade him right, 595 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 7: and you get you know, the music, the music stops. 596 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 7: There's some teams that don't sign closers in the off season. 597 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:31,479 Speaker 7: Somebody shows up in spring training him with an injury. 598 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 7: But Neander's point was that to carry that eleven million 599 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 7: without knowing could limit their maneuverability early in the offseason. 600 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 7: So yeah, I mean, I think you could look at 601 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:42,639 Speaker 7: it and say, why couldn't a team a four and 602 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 7: eleven a dollar closer? And then what's unset is what 603 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 7: is their evaluation of Pete. I know the fastballs come 604 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 7: down a couple of ticks, but he's also added a 605 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 7: third pitch. I think at twenty seven saves last year, 606 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 7: career high were career high sixty innings, but you know, 607 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 7: definitely had some blow up type game, some very costly 608 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 7: home runs. So I think this was a baseball decision, 609 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 7: but I think money was also part of it, as 610 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 7: it is with almost every decision the Rays make. 611 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 5: All right, if it's money, then our chat has been 612 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 5: clamoring about trades. Obviously, anybody can be traded when it's 613 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 5: the race, but specifically unless you have somebody else that's 614 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:24,639 Speaker 5: definitely like more hot on the market. Yandi Diaz and 615 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:28,719 Speaker 5: Brandon Lao. Do you see them getting traded one or 616 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 5: both of them this offseason? 617 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 2: I don't. 618 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 7: I think part of what they were trying to do. 619 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 7: And you know, Brandon Llow's option and Pete Fairbanks option 620 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 7: were sent you the same, you know, eleven to five 621 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 7: and eleven. I think, you know, by keeping Brandon that 622 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 7: was a decision, and you know, maybe it was keep 623 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 7: him and let Pete go. But I do think for 624 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:53,560 Speaker 7: a team that needs offense, Yandy Diaz had a twelve 625 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 7: million dollar contract with an option for twenty seven. Brandon 626 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 7: Lao on a one year contract for eleven point five million. 627 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 7: Those are two pretty productive players. They don't really have 628 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 7: a replacement for Brandon Love at second base. Now, if 629 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 7: somehow during their offseason they find somebody who's gonna give 630 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 7: them production and happens to be a second basement, that 631 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 7: could change that conversation. But I think, as we said 632 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 7: here today, they're gonna have both those guys to start 633 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 7: the season. Now, come to July, if they're having another 634 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 7: season where they're not in the playoff race, then I 635 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 7: think that conversation changes. 636 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,440 Speaker 1: Topper great stuff, you nailed it on the off season 637 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: to do List, much much more from Topper, Give him 638 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 1: a follow. Checkout his work in the Tampa Bay Times. 639 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: Good catching up with you sounds good. 640 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 7: Valve Territory from the Trop April six, Why don't you 641 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 7: guys all come over? 642 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 1: I love the idea. I'm all four more road shows, 643 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: so we'll jump over there. We got to do a show. 644 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,200 Speaker 1: Hey Jay, we haven't done a show from there regular seasons. 645 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 3: So my fault, Scott, I keep offering. You keep saying, no, 646 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 3: it's not my fault. 647 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: I don't say that's true. 648 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 3: Scott. 649 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: All right, the request has been punched in. 650 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 6: We will talk see