1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: I don't think the dynamics of that job are going 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: to change until there is a commitment from ownership to spend. 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 2: Hello everybody, and welcome to the Thursday live edition of 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 2: Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal. As you can see, Ken 5 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 2: Rosenthal is not here. I'm your host for the next 6 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 2: half an hour. I'm Alana Rizou, joined now by Alden Gonzalez, 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 2: ESPN Baseball reporter. I always appreciate Alden taking the time 8 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 2: to be with us. Make sure you load up the 9 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 2: questions in the chat. Alden doesn't know this yet, but 10 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 2: we're going to be grilling him in just a couple 11 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,639 Speaker 2: of minutes. So Alden, welcome to the show. We appreciate 12 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,279 Speaker 2: you being here. First and foremost, the news around Major 13 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: League Baseball right now is the firing of Pedro Griffall 14 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 2: of the Chicago White Sox. As we get into the lead, 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: just your reaction to this move and certainly where do 16 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 2: the Chicago White Socks go from here? It looks like 17 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: Grady Sizemore is going to be the interim manager. 18 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. My immediate reaction was where was this news about 19 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: a week ago? I mean, this was the news that 20 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: we were all waiting on it was obvious that Paedro 21 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: Griffall was not going to be their manager going forward, 22 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: wasn't going to be their manager in the future or 23 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: next year. And I mean, look, when you're losing twenty 24 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: one consecutive games, you have to make a change. And 25 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: I thought the interesting thing here you touched on Grady 26 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: size more, bringing up somebody who's inexperienced in coaching in 27 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: general and baseball. And they did say that they're going 28 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: to reassess in the offseason to find maybe a more 29 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: long term fitted manager. But maybe they're trying to see 30 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: what they might have in somebody like a Graaty Seize Marty. 31 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: We've seen, you know, the success of somebody like a 32 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: Stephen Vote in that same division with the Guardians. But 33 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: Patrick Griffall not only being fired, Charlie Montoya, their bench coach, 34 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: also being fired. It's very clear that there are cultural 35 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: things at play here. There are cultural issues in that clubhouse. 36 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: I'd been hearing that for weeks, even before they made 37 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: history with this losing streak, they needed to make a change. 38 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: I'm honestly surprised it took that long. 39 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: You know, you mentioned the change that is necessary there 40 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 2: in Chicago all that. And it's interesting because Jerry Reinsdorf 41 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 2: has owned that team since nineteen eighty one, so he's 42 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: been the owner of the Chicago White Sox for forty 43 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: three years. They've only won one playoff series. Now it 44 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 2: was the year that they won the World Cheries Championship. 45 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 2: But are you surprised at the lack of success, the 46 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: overarching lack of success over the course of the last 47 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,559 Speaker 2: four decades for this club that is not any small. 48 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: Market, absolutely, and I think a lot of that is 49 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: Jerry Reinsdorff not spending enough money on the team and 50 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: not spending enough money not just on the team, but 51 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: on the infrastructure, on the resources, and giving maximizing players 52 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: that they bring in there. I mean, we've seen that 53 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: with a few owners throughout the sport, whether it's in Colorado, 54 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: whether it's in Anaheim, and I think that applies in 55 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: Chicago as well. And I think not just you look 56 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: at sort of the macroview of the White Sox not 57 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: winning enough, and I think that's totally relevant. I think 58 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: it is stunning that they're here now after just what 59 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: was it Alana four five years ago, maybe even less 60 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: than that, when we took a look at just the 61 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: players that they had brought in because they had gone 62 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: through this many rebuild they got some nice pieces back 63 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: and it seemed like they were on their way. I mean, 64 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: there were comparisons between the White Sox and the Atlanta Braves. 65 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: Just because they had intriguing, young, talented players. They locked 66 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 1: them up to long term deals, and a lot of 67 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: us thought they're going to go on a run here, 68 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: and I mean, look, it's not like they didn't have 69 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: any success, right, they won a division, they made the 70 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: playoffs another year, but this run was supposed to last 71 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: a lot longer, and there's a lot that went into 72 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: that not happening. Some people would point to bring in 73 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: Tony LaRussa another Jerry Reins was move obviously, but there 74 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: were some players that just didn't develop at the rates 75 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: that they thought and it was almost as if everything 76 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: that could go wrong for a team that we thought 77 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: was ascending went wrong, and it just outside of maybe 78 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: ownership issues. It's a reminder of how difficult it is 79 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: to build stay winning in baseball, because I mean, even 80 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: when we think teams haven't figured out, stuff like this 81 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: could happen. 82 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's interesting too, Alten because Chris Getz is the 83 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: general manager of the Chicago White Sox. He worked with 84 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: Pedro Grifall at their time in Kansas City together. And 85 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 2: Chris Getz is addressing the media as we speak right now. 86 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 2: Don't you think though, that that should have been Jerry 87 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 2: Reinsdorf addressing the media. I mean, Chris Getz was the 88 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 2: head of player development for the White Sox before it 89 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: becomes the manager. Yet he fails to develop or you know, 90 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: they're releasing and trading away guys that he failed to 91 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 2: develop in their system. Why isn't Jerry Reinsdorf speaking to 92 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: the media. 93 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, And you know what, I don't expect them to though, 94 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: because my expectations are low on ownership levels. I mean, 95 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: that's Chris Jets's job. I mean, I hate to say it, 96 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: but that's the job of the general managers basically to 97 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: take bullets and sometimes you gotta do the stuff that 98 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: the owner wants and pretend that that was your decision. 99 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: And I'm not saying that this was a Jerry ryins intercident. 100 00:04:57,839 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure that Chris Getz would also agree that 101 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 1: he needs to make a change at manager. But I mean, 102 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: we see that on time. I mean I wish owners 103 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: addressed a media a lot more often and took questions 104 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: from fans, took questions from reporters because they're the ones 105 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: who are making the final decisions on all of this stuff. 106 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,119 Speaker 1: But it just doesn't happen in that sport. 107 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, I wish owners would also spend money, because you 108 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: know that they can. I mean, they've only given one 109 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 2: really big contract that was to Andrew Benintendi. I was 110 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 2: seventy five million dollars. They're not even on the one 111 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: hundred million dollar category. And this is not Milwaukee, this 112 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 2: is not Cincinnati, this is Chicago, all right. Shifting our 113 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: focus al in a little bit. You just wrote an 114 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: article for ESPN on show, Hey Otawani's progress as far 115 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 2: as getting back to being a two way player. Obviously, 116 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 2: he's just hitting this year as a DH for the Dodgers, 117 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: but he wants to be back on the mound. What 118 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: can you tell us. 119 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: He's progressing pretty quickly. I mean, it's it's pretty amazing. 120 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: The tasks right now are very menial with him. I 121 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 1: mean he's just playing catch. He backed up to about 122 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty feet. He's thrown at eighty five 123 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: percent intensity. But he's going to get off a mound 124 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: here pretty soon. I mean it might be late August, 125 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: early September, before the year finishes, before the Dodgers start 126 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 1: the playoffs. The Dodgers want him to face hitters, simulate 127 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: a game life batting practice, something like that. I asked again. 128 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 1: By the way, the Dodgers will not be pitching him 129 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. That's out of the question. But I 130 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: think one of the reasons why I wanted to write it, 131 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: outside of just updating where Otani is in his progress, 132 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: it's just amazing what he's doing, and I just don't 133 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: think it can be overstated. This is a guy who 134 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: might become the first designated hitter in baseball history to 135 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: win an MVP. He's doing it coming off his second 136 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: major elbow surgery. He's doing it while he's rehabbing as 137 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 1: a pitcher in hopes of being the first two way 138 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: player in more than one hundred years. Oh and by 139 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: the way, Babe Ruth, as a reminder, only did that 140 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: for about two years. Otani has already done it for three. 141 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: His hope is to continue to do that for the 142 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: rest of his career, and I just think it's astonishing 143 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: and just you know, listening to the Dodgers to sort 144 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: of talk about the way show he has gone about it. 145 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 1: His attention to detail, I mean, on a team with 146 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: Clayton Kushaw, by the way, stands out among anybody else, 147 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: and it's almost like you have to be that way 148 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: in order to do the thing that nobody else has 149 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: ever done. I mean, I'm talking about like during spring training, 150 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: if the tee was an inch, an inch too low, 151 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 1: an inch too high, he would notice at one point 152 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: the bat the batter's box that sprayed onto the mat 153 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,239 Speaker 1: in the batting cage, the dimensions were off from Dodgers Stadium. 154 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: He noticed that. He asked that they change it, and 155 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: he's got He's been just that meticulous about just his 156 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: throwing program. As people on the team told me, every 157 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: single throw that he makes matters. He puts so much 158 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: into everything, and it's why, although it seems so unlikely 159 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: that he's going to be a two way player long term, 160 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: the Dodgers can't doubt him because he cares that much 161 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: about it. 162 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 2: That's insane. Seven hundred million dollars and it's just goes 163 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 2: to show you how valuable of a player. He is 164 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 2: to the team as well, especially if they can get 165 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 2: to the postseason again and win it. Let's let me 166 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: ask you this. Mookie Bets is on the come, he's 167 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: coming back soon. Would you put him back at the shortstop? 168 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: I believe that's the plan for him. I would put 169 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 2: him back in the outfield. What is your take on it? 170 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: I think, and I think there are some members of 171 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: the Dodgers who might agree that their roster works better 172 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: if Mookie Bets mock moves back to right field. Look, 173 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: if you look at the Dodgers just the outfield in general, 174 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: they struggle to get production out of that position outside 175 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,839 Speaker 1: of to Oscar Hernandez. They know that Mookie Bets could 176 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: do it. Obviously, he's a six time Gold Glover and 177 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: he would in check the offense there. And the other 178 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: side of that, too, is they would get some premium 179 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: defense at shortstop because they could place either Miguel Rojas 180 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,839 Speaker 1: or Nick Ahmed at short Those are Gold Glove caliber shortstops. 181 00:08:57,880 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: And look, you need to be strong up the middle 182 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,439 Speaker 1: the playoffs when the margins for error are really small, 183 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: when defense really shows up, especially Layton games. And here's 184 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: the thing, He's going to come back initially as a shortstop, 185 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: and I think he deserves that because the tasks that 186 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: he took on. I mean, think about it. He was 187 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: going to move from right field to second base full 188 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: time going into the year, and then all of a 189 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: sudden they're like, oh, by the way, no, we need 190 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: help at shortstop. Mookie, can you bail us out here? 191 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: He learned that position, the hardest position on the field, 192 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: made himself vulnerable. Okay, I mean this is a superstar player. 193 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: How many players would put themselves in a position like 194 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: that right when everybody's watching, and I mean basically set 195 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: up to fail. This is a position he had played 196 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: since high school, So I think you owe it to 197 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: him to let him keep trying to shortstop. But there's 198 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: no doubt that they're better off with a mcguil, rohaus 199 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: or Nikamet defensively there moving him to right field. And 200 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: I think this will be my last point on this, 201 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: but what Dave Roberts said yesterday makes sense, which is 202 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: that look for now, they're really banged up. Max Munsey 203 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: is not there. They need other guys to move around, 204 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 1: so it's a lot easier to have Mookie bets take 205 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 1: down shortstop and then eventually tell them, hey, by the way, 206 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 1: can you go to right field? But doing it the 207 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: other way around, if you start to right field and 208 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: all of a sudden they need help at shortstop, that 209 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: would be really unfair to Mookie Bets. So doing it 210 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: this way probably makes sense. 211 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 2: Okay, I'd like your point there. I would put Mooki 212 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 2: actually in center, leave Tay Oscar and right, and then 213 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 2: leave Kevin Kiermeyer and left. And I know Kevin Kiermeyer 214 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 2: obviously doesn't have the production offensively, but he's a hell 215 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 2: of a defensive outfielder. So but what the heck do 216 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 2: I know? That's why I'm on this side and not 217 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 2: managing a team. Let me ask you this, Alton, this 218 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 2: is too close for comfort if you're a Dodger fan. 219 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 2: As far as the lead in the division right now, 220 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 2: just a three game lead on paper, the Padres look 221 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 2: pretty dang good. And you know Aj Peler was going 222 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 2: to go forward at the deadline. They're going to get 223 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: Fernando test Tattoosa. If you look at the NL playoff picture, 224 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:06,439 Speaker 2: is the West still the Dodgers to win? Obviously? And 225 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 2: how do you see this playing out? 226 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: I think we have a division race, and I think 227 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: if you talk to members of the Dodgers after last 228 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: night's loss to the Phillies, they would say the same. 229 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: And it's really interesting because not that the team takes 230 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: it for granted. I wouldn't say that, but maybe people 231 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: on the outside take for granted that, you know, the 232 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: Dodgers are gonna win the National League West, right like. 233 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,079 Speaker 1: The only year that they didn't win in this recent 234 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: run is because the Giants went nuts and the Dodgers 235 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: only finished one game behind them. And the thought about 236 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: the Dodgers all year was the regular season, particularly August 237 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: September was just going to be this really prolonged tryout 238 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: for the playoffs, getting set for the playoffs. And all 239 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: of a sudden, the Dodgers look up and they're basically 240 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: in a fight for their lives right now because the 241 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: Padres look really good. The Diamondbacks look a lot like 242 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: what they looked like last September and October when they 243 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: made a run that nobody thought they were going to make, 244 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: And it's about surviving for them, and if a lot 245 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: of if you take a look at the schedules, the 246 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: Padres have an incredibly easy schedule, for the rest of 247 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: this month. The Dodger schedule is really difficult. They're not 248 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: a whole, okay, so it's difficult to judge the Dodgers 249 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: right now. Mooki Bets is not there, Freddie Freeman missed 250 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: some time, guys have been in and out. They're waiting 251 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: and hoping for Mmotor to come back. Months he's not there. 252 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: So this is not their best version. But they need 253 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: to figure it out because if they don't figure it out, 254 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: they're going to lose a National League West. 255 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:37,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, which is insane to me because you look back 256 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 2: a month ago and it seemed like they were running 257 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 2: away with it. Now just a three game advantage, and 258 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,599 Speaker 2: you're right, they're not whole. They do have some reinforcements, 259 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 2: including Mookie Bets. And actually I wanted to give a 260 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 2: shout out to our friends on the Philly Show. Rubin 261 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 2: Tomorrow knows Mookie Bets obviously from their time in Boston together, 262 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 2: so I want to take a listen to that. Obviously 263 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 2: coming up on that. If you look at a sneak 264 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 2: pick of this, you can understand why Moki is such 265 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 2: a special player. Take a listen. 266 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 3: But the only thing that that may not be the 267 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,680 Speaker 3: time of my life. Is the stress that comes with 268 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 3: playing like this, Like like you mai only get three plays, 269 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 3: but you better not mess him up. And it's like 270 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 3: in the eighth inning, first and third, two outs and 271 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 3: they hit you like a backhand. That's a relatively routine backhand. 272 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 3: But for me, that's not relatively routine. Like I'm just 273 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 3: learning this. I'm just I'm just learning how to do. 274 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 3: I just I just learned this two days ago, so 275 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 3: I'm trying to put it in the game now. And 276 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 3: so that part is stressful, but you know it, it's fun. 277 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 3: It's definitely kept me up, keepped me up at night. 278 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: Though. We love the Philly Show. Of course, Ruben Tomorrow 279 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:56,959 Speaker 2: Todd's a lucky Jim Salisbury hosting the Philly Show. Happy 280 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 2: to have them on the Foul Territory Network. It's always 281 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 2: good to see them. So I ask you this, Alden, 282 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 2: just really quickly on MOOKI I mean, is there any 283 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 2: other athlete that could have gone from right field to 284 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 2: shortstop back to the outfield if necessary? I mean, this 285 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 2: guy is the most amazing athlete, not only on the Dodgers, 286 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 2: but I think in baseball. Is it fair to say that. 287 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: I've asked a lot of people that question, this was 288 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: before he broke his left hand, about anybody that they 289 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: could think of. I asked Deno eeopl, who's worked with, 290 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: as you know, so many different infielders outfielders throughout his career. 291 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: He couldn't name a single one, not at this stage 292 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: in their career right, not already being fully formed and 293 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: not that way right field first, then shortstop right like 294 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 1: we've seen players, I mean Robin Yo stands out right 295 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: being a shortstop then transitioning to the outfield doing it 296 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: the other way around, by the way, in your thirties. Yeah, 297 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: that's exceedingly rare. Can I just point out that a 298 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: lot of listening to Mookie Betts in that interview, I 299 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: love how self deprecating he is, right, Like it's a 300 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: he's so secure in who he is, but he he's 301 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: always like I remember talking to him going into the 302 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: home run derby last year and just talking about like 303 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: how he felt like he had no chance because he 304 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: has no power, and like he does it at shortstop too. 305 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: I mean, he's so hard on himself and I think 306 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: that even outwardly, and I think that's what makes him great. 307 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 2: I had no idea his guns were that big. I 308 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 2: don't think I've ever really seen Mookie in a tank top, 309 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 2: So just looking at the Philly Show when he's wearing 310 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 2: his tank top and I hate how much does this 311 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 2: guy lift? I didn't realize that he was that in 312 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 2: the weights? 313 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: Did you think it was a coincidence at somebody who's 314 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: smaller than me can hit the ball four hundred and 315 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: fifty feet? 316 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 2: Maybe maybe we'll keep an eye out for Mookie's interview 317 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 2: on the Philly Show. It airs on Friday. And now 318 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 2: we want to welcome in our friends from Hello Fresh. 319 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 4: Big shout out to America's number one meal kit, Hello Fresh, 320 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 4: for helping us eat good during this busy time of 321 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 4: the year for us. With Hello Fresh, you get pre 322 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 4: portioned ingredients and seasonal recipes delivered right to your doorstep. 323 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 4: Home cooking made easy, fun and affordable. 324 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 5: HelloFresh makes it easy even for pick eaters like Scott. 325 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 5: There's a changing menu of fifty recipes to choose from 326 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 5: each week, customize it to fit your taste. There's protein 327 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 5: and veggie swap options too. 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That's free kids meals just by 336 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 4: going to HelloFresh dot com slash ft Kids. 337 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 2: All right, thank you very much for Scott and aj 338 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 2: and Eric Karatz and of course thank you hello fresh 339 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 2: time now for grilling Alden and Alden. You're new to 340 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 2: the show, so we appreciate you doing this. Don't worry, 341 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 2: it's nothing that you can and no, don't be, don't be. 342 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 2: It's just about baseball. You know baseball better than anybody. 343 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 2: All right. So the first question is again regarding the 344 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 2: Chicago White Sox. In your opinion, who were some legitimate 345 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 2: candidates as far as the job is concerned. I mean, 346 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 2: do you have like maybe three options? Drew Boggs wants 347 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 2: to know. Drew, a good friend of the show, who 348 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 2: do you think they should hire? 349 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 1: Well, I could tell you one guy who's going to 350 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: be a free agent, who I think has done an 351 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: exceptional job and doesn't look like he's going to stay 352 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: his current role. And that's Skip Schumacher. Whether or not 353 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 1: he would take a job in Chicago, whether or not 354 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: Chris Getz would be interested in hiring him, that's the 355 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: name I'm watching the most, not just with the White Sox, 356 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 1: but just because until Alex Korra got before Alex, after 357 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 1: Alex Coorra got extended, Skip Schumacher was the number one 358 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: name on my mind. I think he's going to be 359 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: the biggest free agent out there. I think if you 360 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 1: talk to the players out there, they love play and 361 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 1: I just think he wasn't interested in another teardown in 362 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: Miami because it's not what he set up for. This 363 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 1: was going to be a long process in Chicago as well, 364 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: but he's proven to be somebody who's really good at 365 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,360 Speaker 1: nurturing young talent. Outside of that, I mean, look there, 366 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: there's such a wide spectrum of potential outcomes with a 367 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: manager there, and I think they need to be completely 368 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: open minded and have a really drawn out search, which 369 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 1: is why letting go of Patrick Rafall now makes a 370 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 1: lot of sense. But outside of that, I'm going to 371 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: be really interested to see what Grady Sizemore could do. 372 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 1: There's a reason why they put him in that job 373 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: and not Charlie Montoya, who is the bench coach. That's 374 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: typically how teams do it. They clearly want to see 375 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: what they have in him, and I'd be really curious 376 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 1: to see. They should be open to that too. 377 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 2: I mean, this is not a desirable job, is it. 378 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, I thought of the same thing 379 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 2: with the Miami Marlins. I mean, who wants to manage 380 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 2: the Marlins when it seems to be like a constant teardown? 381 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 2: What would the intrigue be of being the White Sox manager? 382 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 1: The fact that I'm struggling so hard to come up 383 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 1: with it, Alana, lets you know everything that you need 384 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: to know, because I don't think the dynamics of that 385 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: job are going to change until there is a commitment 386 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 1: from ownership to spend in order to supplement a building 387 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: a an emerging young core. And you brought this up 388 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: earlier in the show, and I'm glad you did. The 389 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: biggest free agent contract in White Sox history is Andrew Benintendee. 390 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: And this is not a knock on Andrew Benintendee. But 391 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: when you think that you have players coming up, and 392 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: I know a lot of different things happened with Yo 393 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: Mankata and Alloy Jimenez and those guys not developing or 394 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: not staying healthy as much as they wanted, Andrew Vaughan 395 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: all those guys. But when you think you have that 396 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: and you don't spend more in free agency, I think 397 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: that's very telling as to what kind of resources you're 398 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: going to put into this. And the White Sox major 399 00:19:57,359 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 1: league roster has a long way to go. Their farm 400 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: system has a long way to go. So it has 401 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: to be somebody who's really good at developing players and 402 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: bringing them along. And whoever that guy is, he and 403 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: Chris Gets are going to be tasked with changing the 404 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: perception of that franchise and making it a desirable destination. 405 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: But they can't do that if Jerry Reinsdorff doesn't help 406 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,120 Speaker 1: in that pursuit, and so far there have been very 407 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: few indications that he's willing to do that. 408 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 2: In your opinion, are there any other managers aled in 409 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 2: on the hot seat? 410 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: I'm trying to go through it. I think let's see here, 411 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:48,679 Speaker 1: who jumps out to you a lot? And maybe that 412 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: could help me out because. 413 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 2: Well, the reason I asked that, and I don't want 414 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 2: to put you on the spot. It was a question 415 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 2: also from Armand But when Alex Korr received the extension 416 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 2: during the season, I thought that was interesting because he's 417 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 2: he says he wasn't going to talk about it. But 418 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 2: if someone comes up to me and says, I'm going 419 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 2: to give you seven million dollars a year, I think 420 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 2: I'd be willing to listen. But a lot of folks 421 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 2: thought perhaps if Alex Corps didn't resign with the Red Sox, 422 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 2: that if Dave didn't get the Dodgers to where he 423 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 2: needed to be they needed to be, or Aaron Boone 424 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 2: in New York didn't get the Yankees to where they 425 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 2: need to be, that perhaps Alex would go there. Well, 426 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 2: he's obviously going to be in Boston at least three 427 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 2: more years. So I'm wondering to you, and you're very 428 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 2: you know, you cover the Dodgers intimately. If Dave doesn't 429 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 2: get the Dodgers out of the first round or get 430 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 2: them deep into the postseason, is he on the hot seat? 431 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: I think he might. And that's been a big talking 432 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: point here in Los Angeles. And look, he signed an 433 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: extension not too long ago. But and I don't know 434 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: if the blame would fall squarely on him. Who knows 435 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: what the situation might be that leads to that. But 436 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, I mean, you would 437 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: have three consecutive exits in the Division Series, and it 438 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: would be on the heels of historic offseason in which 439 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:05,479 Speaker 1: ownership spent more than a billion dollars on Tyler glass 440 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: Now and Shohel Tani and Yoshino Miyamamoto, and it would 441 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: be hard to overcome that. And I could see a 442 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,400 Speaker 1: scenario where if the Dodgers get eliminated early again, they 443 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 1: take a step back and they say to themselves, look, 444 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 1: we've been a dominant team for the last ten twelve years. 445 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: We've come away with one championship and it was one 446 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: amid a COVID season that was unlike any other. And 447 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: they'll say that that one was harder to win than 448 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,199 Speaker 1: any other championship traditionally, And maybe they're right, but still 449 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 1: they haven't had a parade alta. Imagine that, right like 450 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: they want to be this, they want this to be 451 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,360 Speaker 1: the greatest era in Dodgers' history, and that hasn't been 452 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:49,400 Speaker 1: the case because they haven't done it in the playoffs, 453 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: so I could see scenario where if they exit early, 454 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: they're gonna take a step back and think, what do 455 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: we need to do differently in October? And that could 456 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: fall on Dave Roberts, but I think a lot would 457 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 1: have to happen there. You brought up Aaron Boone, I 458 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: think they would at this point, they might win the 459 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 1: American leaguees for all the flaws on that roster, and 460 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: for as tough as they are to watch. Sometimes, you know, 461 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: if they make the playoffs, if they make a decent run, 462 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 1: or even if they just win the division, I think 463 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: Aaron Boon would be safe at least going into next season. 464 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: Yankee fans might not want to hear that, but I 465 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: think that will be the case. I think, look, there's 466 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: there's one obvious one. And I was trying to go 467 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: through my roller decks earlier and it didn't come to 468 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: me soon enough. But the obvious one is John Schneider 469 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: in Toronto, right, I mean a good point, and to 470 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: a lesser degree than the White Sox. But when they 471 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 1: had Bobaschett and Vladimir Guerrero Junior and Kevin Bigio who 472 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: didn't develop to that level coming up together. Uh, And 473 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: I will say their front office did spend at least 474 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,400 Speaker 1: more than the White Sox on supplementing a young core. 475 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: You thought they were going to be an emerging powerhouse 476 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: in the AO East and they just haven't been. And 477 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 1: it's very clear that. And look, you could say, and 478 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: rightly you can say that they didn't do enough to 479 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: offseason and they did it okay, but they're at a 480 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 1: point now where it's very clear, all right, at least 481 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: it should be that they need to take a step 482 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 1: back again. And if Vladimir Girl Junior and Bobished don't 483 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 1: sign extensions, they need to be traded because they're going 484 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:17,640 Speaker 1: into their free agencies next year. I could see them 485 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: wanting to make a change in Toronto. I'm sure I'm 486 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:24,120 Speaker 1: missing a lot more. John Schneider, unfortunately, is the obvious 487 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:25,639 Speaker 1: one for me. 488 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I couldn't agree with you more. I 489 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 2: think you hit the nail on the head with John Snyder. 490 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:32,639 Speaker 2: And I'm not certain that there are other managers right 491 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:34,360 Speaker 2: now that are on the hot seat. I think obviously 492 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 2: Graffall is gone now and John Schnyder maybe not deservedly, 493 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,640 Speaker 2: but could could, could certainly be next. All right, we're 494 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 2: gonna move on to what we call dude and dork, 495 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:46,160 Speaker 2: and I'm gonna set you up for this. So it's 496 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 2: each each Thursday, Ken Rosenthal and I pick a Dude 497 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 2: of the Week and a dork of the week. So 498 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 2: for due to the week, for me, it's somebody all 499 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 2: then that you're impressed by somebody that did something you 500 00:24:57,960 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 2: know pretty good. So for me, it's going to be 501 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 2: Christian Moore. Now he's a minor leaguer obviously that was 502 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 2: called up to double A after two games in the 503 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 2: minors and then he ends up going four for five 504 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:11,679 Speaker 2: with the walk off home run last night, So that 505 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 2: to me is pretty impressive. Congratulations to him. You know, 506 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 2: the kid is trying to work his way to to 507 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 2: the big league level and ends up having a walk 508 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 2: off home run, you know, a multiple home run game. 509 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,640 Speaker 2: So is there anybody this week? I'm gonna actually give 510 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 2: you options because I know I'm putting you on the spot, 511 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 2: so I think, I, oh, you do okay, good? Who 512 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 2: is it? 513 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: I want to hear your options? 514 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 2: Okay, My options for you are Pat Murphy and the 515 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 2: Brewers sending a video to Freddie Freeman and his family 516 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 2: of course, because of everything that was going on with Maximus, 517 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 2: or Kyle Schwarber, who had a hell of a game 518 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,879 Speaker 2: and they're having a hell of a series. So those 519 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 2: are your two options, but you can pick whoever you want. 520 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 2: Don't don't make me like pigeonhole you. It's okay. 521 00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna pick two. Okay, my first My first dude 522 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: of the week is Maximus Freddy, so I love it 523 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 1: everything that he went through and it seems like he's 524 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:09,719 Speaker 1: on the road to recovery, and I mean nothing but 525 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 1: well wishes to Maximus in that family. As a father 526 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 1: of a young child, I can't imagine what Freddy and 527 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: Chelsea have been going through. Maximus is might do to 528 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: the week because it looks like he's on his way 529 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: back and I love to see that. And everybody was 530 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: so happy. On a far, far, far far less serious note, 531 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna choose Blake Snell. Does he apply? 532 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, this is your game. You do whatever 533 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 2: you want with it. 534 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: Blake Snell for throwing that no hitter against the Reds, 535 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: for the way that he has recovered from a really 536 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: rough start, and for how determined he seems to be 537 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 1: as he should be to prove to people that he 538 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,360 Speaker 1: is a bona fide top of the rotation starter. This 539 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: is a guy who didn't get anywhere near the contract 540 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: that he thought he should get. Coming off by the 541 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: way a Cy Young Award, he's been the best pitch 542 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,359 Speaker 1: in baseball. I think I haven't looked at the numbers, 543 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 1: but I can't imagine many others have been better than him. 544 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: Since he came back off the injured list at the 545 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: start of July, he's dominating. He got off to a 546 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: rough start because he had a late spring training and 547 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: he wasn't put in a good position to succeed. And 548 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 1: you know, some of it might be his own doing, 549 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 1: his agent's doing, but he's going back to dominating again, 550 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: and unless he falls off the cliff, he's going to go. 551 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:26,920 Speaker 1: He's going to be a free agent. He's going to 552 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 1: decline a thirty million dollar player option in twenty twenty five, 553 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: and we'll see what the market holds for him. But 554 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:37,919 Speaker 1: he's on a mission to prove that he deserves to 555 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: be talked about among the best starting pitchers in baseball, 556 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: and he's proving it. 557 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 2: See, this is why you're one of the best in 558 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 2: the biz Alden Gonzalez because I didn't even prep you 559 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 2: on this segment. Look at you, Maximus and Blake Snell. 560 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 2: I love it all right. Dork of the week, this 561 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 2: is the opposite of the dude. This is the person 562 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 2: that you are not impressed by. I'm going to go 563 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 2: ahead and say an entire organization called the Oakland Athletics 564 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 2: and they happen to be are dorks of the week 565 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 2: quite often, as playing number twenty two by Taylor Swift 566 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 2: against the White Sox during the warm ups. This is 567 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 2: not love guys that has a lot to brag about recently. Okay, 568 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 2: this is a franchise that has their own set of 569 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 2: losing streaks and problems and issues and missteps. So they 570 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 2: troll the White Sox who are in the midst of hell, 571 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:25,960 Speaker 2: and then they end up losing the game to the 572 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 2: White Sox. So the A's are my dork of the week. 573 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, if you're gonna play that song, you need to 574 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 1: win the game. And you know, you know the bad 575 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 1: thing about that too is, as you know, as everybody 576 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: should know, the players, the coaches like none of them 577 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: have any say as to what the entertainment is at 578 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 1: the ballpark. Right, So but then they play it and 579 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: so it's up to the players to back that up, right, 580 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: and so they put them in a bad position. So like, yeah, 581 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: I really I do love it though, Like I love 582 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: the trolling. But you know, I'm a child, my dor 583 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: the you don't have options for me? If you don't, 584 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: then I'll go. 585 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 2: I didn't know I have options for you. 586 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 1: I would love to hear your options. 587 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm gonna say Hunter wendel Stett for the call 588 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 2: that he had yesterday, Dave Roberts, Miguel Rojas blocking the 589 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 2: plate there on the Alex Bohemsla Alex Bohm slide, Colin 590 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 2: Coward saying that baseball hasn't made any big changes. This 591 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 2: is a guy that obviously doesn't watch baseball. Brian Walsh 592 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 2: to the home plate umpire in Atlanta last night, or 593 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:28,479 Speaker 2: just the White Sox in general. 594 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with the White Sox. 595 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: That was going to be my pick. I love the options, uh, 596 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 1: And not to beat a dead horse here, but look, 597 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: I mean, we all knew the White Sox were going 598 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: to be bad this year. They were set up to 599 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: be bad, right like they were going to This was 600 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 1: the year to maybe trade some of their assets and 601 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: built for the future. See what they have in young 602 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 1: guys that they could maybe build around. So the expectation 603 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: is you're going to be bad, all right. What you 604 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: can't be is historically bad, okay, And there are a 605 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 1: lot of issues at play when you get to a 606 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: point where you're losing twenty one consecutive games and a 607 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: lot of I don't know, if you saw the video 608 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: of Miguel Vargas in Oakland after he got trained, Yeah, 609 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: it looked like a hostage video, all right. He was 610 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 1: leaning up against the dugout in Oakland and he looks. 611 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 2: So distragic, Yeah, dejected. 612 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: And just I've heard there's just a lot of sort 613 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: of toxic cultural issues in that clubhouse. And I don't 614 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 1: know how much Pedro Griffol has to do with that, 615 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 1: but the fact that this team might go down historically 616 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: as the worst team in baseball, when by the way, 617 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that they were great going into the 618 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: year or anything, but you look at that roster and like, 619 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: there's some talent better than they were. They should be 620 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 1: better than that, and we've seen, we've seen oftentimes Pedro 621 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 1: called them out in the media, and I don't know 622 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 1: what goes on behind the scenes that prompts him to 623 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: do that, but I'm sure there is a reason, right, 624 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: There is a disconnect there, and so they have to 625 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 1: be my dork of the week. They could be the 626 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: dork of the week every week because of how their 627 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 1: season is going. But it just it can't get this bad, 628 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: and it's historically bad. They're going to go down in 629 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 1: history as one of the worst teams ever and that's 630 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 1: just frankly, it's embarrassing. 631 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 2: It is. It's embarrassing, and it's unacceptable in a market 632 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 2: that size, with the amount of money that they have 633 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 2: that they should be spending. Aldn, you hit it out 634 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 2: of the park, my friend. You stepped in for Ken Rosenthal. 635 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 2: Not easy shoes to fill. We appreciate you so much. 636 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 2: Thanks for being here, and we look forward to reading 637 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 2: your stuff soon and seeing you again. We appreciate you. 638 00:31:58,400 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 1: Thank you, Anna, thanks for having me. 639 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 2: All right, Al the Gonzalez of ESPN. Before we go, 640 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 2: let's shout out the bet MGM First bet fifteen hundred 641 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,600 Speaker 2: dollars offer when you use the bonus code foul get 642 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 2: this offer when you download the BETMGM sportsbook app or 643 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:15,360 Speaker 2: at BETMGM dot com. Sign up, enter that bonus code 644 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 2: foul and deposit at least ten dollars into your new account. 645 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:21,120 Speaker 2: Place your first wager and receive up to fifteen hundred 646 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 2: dollars back in bonus bets if the bet loses. If 647 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 2: the bet does lose, your bonus bets will be available 648 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:30,479 Speaker 2: once your initial wager is settled. Gambling problem or concerned, 649 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 2: there's help. Call one eight hundred Gambler. Thanks everybody for 650 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 2: watching and listening. Don't forget to subscribe to Bear Territory 651 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 2: with Ken Rosenthal. Don't forget. Foul Territory is next, and 652 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,200 Speaker 2: then coming up it is Dodgers Territory with myself and 653 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 2: Clint Pisias for Alden Gonzalez. I'm Alana Rizzo. Ken is 654 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 2: back on Monday. We'll see you next time.