1 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to another edition of Fair Territory, and we are 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 1: going to start off talking this week about a team 3 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: I didn't think i'd be talking about all year, except 4 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: maybe to rip them once in a while. That team 5 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: is the first place team in the National League Central, 6 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sixteen and seven, Ladies and gentlemen. They're 7 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: up a half game on the Brewers, three on the Cubs, 8 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: six and a half on the Cardinals already. Now, I 9 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 1: know it's early, things will change. We see this every year. 10 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: But if you had the Pirates as your surprise team 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: on your bingo card, congratulations to you, because I sure 12 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: didn't have them online, so you might be asking what 13 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,599 Speaker 1: is going on here? For the most part, the biggest 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: thing is starting pitching. The Pirates are first in the majors, 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: first in quality starts. They've got fourteen, They've seen Keller 16 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: develop into practically an ace. They've got Ryan Secret, Tres 17 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: rich Hill, the veteran Vince Velasquez throwing sliders out of 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: his mind yesterday. A lot of good things going in 19 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,759 Speaker 1: that rotation. And yet when I spoke with someone from 20 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: another club yesterday, a club that had faced the Pirates, 21 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,559 Speaker 1: he pointed out to their pitching development as a whole, 22 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 1: and you see that with guys like Keller, of course, 23 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: and maybe even Velaskas now that he's using his slider 24 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: even more. But you also see it with Colin Holderman, 25 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: with Dwayne Underwood, two of their skorewarts in the bullpen, 26 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: David Bednar the closer, he's a veteran, he's established, but 27 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: so far, so good on the pitching front for the Pirates. 28 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 1: And when you're a team trying to compete, where does 29 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: it all begin. It begins with that pitching. Now, their offense, 30 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: I'm not totally convinced. Actually I'm not totally convinced by 31 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: the team as a whole, but the offense is the 32 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: one area where maybe you can question. Now, they're tenth 33 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: in the league and runs per game as we stand 34 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: here on Monday morning, but three of those games that 35 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: they've played they had thirteen or were runs skewers, especially 36 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: in a small sample size early. Will mccutchm be good? 37 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: This good all season? Carlos Santana, fair questions, But at 38 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: the same time they're getting great work out of Sowinsky 39 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: and Connor Joe, and it's just a really good vibe 40 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: around that team right now. So give the Pirates all 41 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: the credit in the world. Again, I didn't see this coming, 42 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: and as I wrote, I believe a couple of weeks ago. 43 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: Who knows, maybe now instead of trading Brian Reynolds, they 44 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: will add to Brian Reynolds. So good for the Pirates. 45 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: Great start the NLF Central in particular is interesting because 46 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: it's not just the Pirates playing surprisingly well. I would 47 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: put the Cubs in that category as well. And like 48 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: the Pirates, they're getting strong starting pitching. They are first 49 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: in the National League in rotation era. I don't know 50 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: that we expected that to happen, and I know it's 51 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: only late April, but they have shown some good things 52 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: in their starting pitching, which we saw at the end 53 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: of last year as well. Now, the one thing I 54 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: like about the Cubs, and I wrote this last week, 55 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: you can say this about any team that is playing well. 56 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: Teams that are playing well often talk about their chemistry, 57 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 1: their vibe, how the guys get along. Everything is great. 58 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure the Pirates would say that. I'm sure the 59 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: Rays would say that. We can go through any team 60 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: playing well and they'd say the same. The difference with 61 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: the Cubs and the reason why I sort of buy 62 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: this is twofold one. They've got a core now, they've 63 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: established a corps with some long term extensions. It's Swanson, 64 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: It's Horner in the infield, it's Suzuki and Happ in 65 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: the outfield. These guys are all diligent workers. They're the 66 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: kinds of guys you want on your team. And the 67 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: other thing involves some of the players that they've brought in. 68 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: Swanson is one of them, Bellinger's another, Edwin Rios, Eric Hosmer, 69 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: Trey Mancini, Jan Gomes. Gomes came last year. These are 70 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: all players who have appeared in at least one World 71 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: Series one at least World one World Series. I should 72 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: say Taiwan and Stroman have pitched in an ANLCS or ALCS. 73 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: They pitched in the League Championship Series. Suzuki played in 74 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: the Japan Series. Even Tucker Barnhart, the backup catcher, has 75 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: postseason experience, so they have this sense about them, this 76 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: feeling about them of experience of winning in the past. 77 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: The manager David Ross won a World Series with the 78 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: Red Sox. Their first base coach, Mike Napoli, participated in 79 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 1: three World Series all of this stuff matters. You can't 80 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: measure it, but it's there and it's making a difference 81 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: for the Cubs ultimately. Don't get me wrong. As I wrote, 82 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: talent prevails. Talent always prevails, and if you don't have that, 83 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: you can have all the great chemistry in the world. 84 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: It's not going to matter. But the Cubs have some 85 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: talent too, and with the Pirates, they are showing to 86 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: be a quite interesting team in the early going. Now, 87 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: I was in San Francisco over the week, and I 88 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: want to talk about the two teams I saw there, 89 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: the Mets and the Giants. The Mets won of the 90 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: first two games, lost the second two in that series. 91 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,479 Speaker 1: But the thing that impressed me most being around them 92 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: is that two of their best players, pet Alonso and 93 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: Brandon Nimo have this quality that you so often see 94 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: in great players. You see it in Lindorto and you 95 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 1: see it in others. But I want to talk about 96 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: Alonso and Nemo and the quality they have is that 97 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: they are great and yet they want to be greater. 98 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: You see it with Alonzo this season, what he has 99 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: done with his selectivity. The Mets talked to him at 100 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 1: the end of last season. They said, listen, your plate 101 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: discipline needs to improve. That's the one thing. If you 102 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: can get to there in a better place, you're going 103 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: to be that much better of a hitter. Alonzo took 104 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:52,280 Speaker 1: those words to heart. His chase rate has increased dramatically 105 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,799 Speaker 1: this year. You see it. It was in the low thirties, 106 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 1: the mid thirties the first four seasons of his career. 107 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 1: Now it is below thirty. I know early, but still 108 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: that is a huge difference. And the other thing Alonso 109 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 1: has done, and we talked about this, Mets fans know 110 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: about it. He lost weight. It's been written as ten pounds. 111 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: I heard it was closer to twenty over the weekend, 112 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: whatever the case might be. He ran every day. Why 113 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:21,119 Speaker 1: because he wanted to improve his agility at first base 114 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: and something that defense is very important to him. He 115 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: wants to be an all around player. He wants to 116 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: be better than he has been. And let's face it, 117 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: Peter A. Lonzo is one of the big stars in 118 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: the game. Brandon Nimo another example. Now here's a guy 119 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: who signed a free agent contract to come back to 120 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: the Mets over the winter eight years, one hundred and 121 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: sixty two million. I asked him if he felt the 122 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: need to justify that deal, as players often do, and 123 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: Nimo said, no, it's not like that. What I want 124 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: to do is get more out of myself. I believe 125 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: there is more in there. The coaches, the Mets coaches 126 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: constantly tell him you are better, even better than you 127 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: think you are. And then Nimo to me, cited a 128 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: quote from the late John Wooden, and I was surprised 129 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: to hear this, but it kind of summed up what 130 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: he is feeling. And I'm going to read it to you. 131 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: I set it on the air the other day. I 132 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: might have stumbled through it a little bit. There's a 133 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: lot of words, but I'll get through it here. What 134 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: he said, according John Wooden, is don't measure yourself by 135 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: what you have accomplished, but by what you should have 136 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: accomplished with your ability. And that's the approach Nimo is 137 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: taking this season. Alonso and Nimo two Mets who already 138 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: had accomplished a great deal and are still looking to 139 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: do more. You see that so often with the best 140 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: players in our game. It is something I enjoy writing 141 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: and reporting about because it's just cool to see these 142 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: guys who are already there already making a lot of money, 143 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: in many cases striving for even more. Now. The other 144 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: team I saw this weekend the Giants. The Giants were 145 00:07:55,640 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: my biggest potential surprise team coming into the season. I 146 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: should have had the Pirates, but of course no one 147 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: had the Pirates. But I felt the Giants because if 148 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: their starting pitching might be better than we thought. I 149 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: didn't know that they were going to be as good 150 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: as the Dodgers, Padres, even the Diamondbacks, but I thought 151 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: this team could be okay. Remember they brought in Stripling 152 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: and Mania. They had Webb di Sloffani Wood, Cobb. That's 153 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: a pretty good rotation, and it's proven to be that. 154 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: We're seeing that. Even though Mania has struggled, Stripling hasn't 155 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: been great either, Wood is on the il for a 156 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: few weeks. This is a solid rotation. I felt that 157 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: was a great starting point for the Giants getting closer 158 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: to where they were in twenty one than they were 159 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: in twenty two. Hasn't happened just yet. They started six 160 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: and thirteen before winning those two games against the Mets 161 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: over the weekend. That helps. It also helps that Jack 162 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: Peterson came back last night and that They're going to 163 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: get Hanneger and Austin Slater back this week against the Cardinals. 164 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 1: Both those guys have been on the il all season. 165 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: The right handed hitters, the Giants have struggled like crazy 166 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: against lefties, though they did better over the weekend. The 167 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: Giants now will have a fuller compliment of position players 168 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: than they've had all season. That will help. They've still 169 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: got a lot of problems. Defense is won. We know 170 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: that Brandon Crawford a shortstop. He's thirty six years old. 171 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: He's already banged up. He's not the same, even though 172 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: he's a big three run homer on Saturday. That could 173 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 1: be an issue for them. The bullpen has been an issue. 174 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: I expect it will be an issue at times. But 175 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: if they get that starting pitching, then things start to 176 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: balance out, and I do expect that to happen. They've 177 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: had some weird stats in the early going. The Giants. 178 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: Their pitchers lead the majors in ground ball percentage. That's good, 179 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: even though with the shake ear infield defense it's not 180 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: as beneficial as it could be. But their pitchers also 181 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: have the highest home run the flyball rate in the majors. 182 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: So when they give up a fly ball, it's generally 183 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: going out. Logan Web. Going into his start on set, 184 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: he had given up thirteen fly balls this season, five 185 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: had gone out for homers. It's crazy. These things will 186 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: normalize as time goes on. Are the Giants a good team? 187 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: I don't know if they're a good team. Are they 188 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: might logical pick as a surprise team. Well, it's not 189 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: looking like it right now, but I do believe that 190 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: they're going to play better in the coming weeks now 191 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:22,839 Speaker 1: that they've got some of their players back. Time now 192 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: for the Inside Dish. This is a segment of the 193 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: show in which I go deeper into a story I 194 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: might have written, or delve more deeply into a big 195 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: story that might have occurred in the previous week. And oh, yes, 196 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: there was a big story last week. You might have 197 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: seen a little bit of information about it, seen some 198 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: clips on television. Max Scherzer, the ejection, the ten game suspension, 199 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: the whole bruhaha. Now Max was suspended for using a 200 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: foreign substance, and he felt that he did nothing wrong. 201 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,959 Speaker 1: I'm not going to go into all that again today 202 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: and rehash the pros, the what might have happened? What 203 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 1: I want to talk about is something that Max said 204 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: after he accepted the suspension. He didn't appeal because he 205 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: felt with an MLV appointed arbitrator, he had no chance. 206 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: He probably was right about that, But what he said 207 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 1: after the suspension raised an important question, and I want 208 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: to go to the quote. First of all, the quote 209 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: was this, I wish there was a modification to bring 210 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: spin rates into play to be able to let that 211 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 1: be the threshold of when the umpire can check. I 212 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,319 Speaker 1: still don't understand how I'm deemed cheating or guilty of 213 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: that without that going on. Now, what Max is talking 214 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: about is the subjective judgment of the umpires that is 215 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: used to determine whether pictures are using foreign substances, as 216 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: opposed to the objective spin rate data that is available 217 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: to baseball that we all look at when we're trying 218 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: to figure out when pictures are cheating. Right, Hey, his 219 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: spin rates up, man, he must be doing something. Max's 220 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: thinking is, if we're doing that, why aren't we using 221 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: that to determine which players are using foreign substances and 222 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: which players are not. Okay, let's start at the beginning, 223 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: and I'll try to explain why baseball does it this way. 224 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: Go back to twenty twenty one when Baseball first started 225 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: to crack down on sticky substances. The reason they did 226 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: it at that time was, obviously there was a lot 227 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: of talk and a lot of action with the pitchers 228 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: about those guys using things that they shouldn't have been using. 229 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: And what they did major League officials is basically order 230 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: the umpires to enforce the existing rules. Now, the existing rules, 231 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: which have been on the books for quite some time, 232 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: state that the enforcement of those rules is done by 233 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: the umpires. So to change the rules, if Baseball wanders 234 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: to do that now, they probably would have to go 235 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: to the union and collectively bargain an adjustment of that nature. 236 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: You can't just change the rules without telling the union. 237 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 1: There is a process involved. Now. Would the union object? 238 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: Probably they would, and they would object because there are 239 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 1: several reasons why spin rates are problematic when trying to 240 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: figure out which players are using and which players are not. 241 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: So that's where we start. The umpires enforce these rules. 242 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: To change that, you'd have to go to the union. 243 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: You'd have to possibly do that, and Baseball really would 244 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: rather just do it more cleanly. Have the umpires continue 245 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: doing what they've done for years and years. So what 246 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: is problematic about spin rates? Well, as I understand it 247 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 1: from talking to people on both sides, there are a 248 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: lot of things that are problematic. Start off with this, 249 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: You don't have a uniform baseline for each picture. What 250 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: is spin rates are right now? Now, you could measure 251 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: them and you could get that baseline, but you might 252 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: have a situation where some pictures are already using foreign 253 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:03,599 Speaker 1: substances and their baseline would include their use of foreign substances. 254 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: So you effectively would be grandfathering in cheaters. That's not good, 255 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: that's not what you want, and that is a huge problem. Now. 256 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: Also with spin rates, they fluctuate over the course of 257 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: a game, over the course of a season, and actually 258 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: they drop generally during the course of a game. So 259 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: think about this. If a pitcher's spin rates stay the 260 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: same over the course of a game, is he cheating 261 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: because his spin rates should be dropping? Do you ding 262 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: him for that? I don't know that you can, and 263 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: in fact I believe that you can't. It's a problem. 264 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: So that's one problem. Also, spin rates could be affected 265 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: by whether by picture changing his mechanics. All kinds of 266 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: variability comes into play, and that's a concern. That's a 267 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: concern I heard from people on both sides that there's 268 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: simply too much that can change that will throw off 269 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: the measurement, and that makes spin rates a poor standard. 270 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: And there's a lesser thing too, where the umpire led 271 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: enforcement enables them to catch pictures who are cheating without 272 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: trying to improve their spin rates. That's the kind of 273 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: thing we're talking about with spitballs, for instance. That's a 274 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: lesser thing. Okay. And finally, I don't know that we 275 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: have to fix a situation that isn't broken, and I'm 276 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: talking about the enforcement. We've had three suspensions, three ejections 277 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: since the crackdown began in twenty one. Sureser was the third. 278 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: That's not exactly an epidemic. Now, maybe you can say 279 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: if you use spin rates you'd catch more. I don't 280 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: know that that's true, but it's not that the sport 281 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: is being disrupted right now. And Major League Baseball would 282 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: say that the situation, or the difference between Herman and Shuser, 283 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: what we saw over the course of the last two 284 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: weeks or so demonstrates that the umpires are able to 285 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: distinguish between what is over the line Suzer and what 286 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: is not in their view Herman. Herman, they determined did 287 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: not use substances that were helping him throughout the course 288 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: of the game. So to conclude, Baseball believes the situation 289 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: is working. I'm not sure the Union believes otherwise, and 290 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: I don't see it changing anytime soon. Even though Max 291 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 1: Scherzer wants spin rates to be used, even though his 292 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,239 Speaker 1: agent Scott Boris, has talked about going to an objective, 293 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: verifiable standard. Those standards exist, but they're problematic, and that's 294 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: why I don't expect anything to change. All Right, you've 295 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: been waiting all week. We've got a new dude and 296 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: dork of the Week, and we're gonna get to it 297 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: right now. Due to the week, this was tough. I 298 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: must admit this was tough. This week. We had a 299 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: lot of strong candidates. Adolas Garcia five for five, three homers, 300 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: two doubles. That's a strong candidate. In one night, James 301 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: Autman two two homer games against the Cubs, that's a 302 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: strong candidate. Oakland Mayor Sheng Tao for standing up to 303 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: the A's and calling them out and saying you will 304 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: no longer negotiate with them strong candidate. I like it, 305 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,479 Speaker 1: but the person I'm going to go with is James 306 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: Outman's teammate, Max Munsey. And Max Munsey is on an 307 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: absolute tear. He leads the Majors with eleven homers past 308 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: Pie Alonzo on Sunday. He has ten homers in his 309 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: last thirteen games. It's a stunning run, and it's a 310 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: particularly stunning run considering the way Munsey started the season, 311 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: striking out sixteen times in his first forty one play appearances. 312 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: Change his mechanics, went back to his step back move 313 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: in the box, and voila, He's Max Munsey again. So 314 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: good for Munsie, Good for him for identifying what was wrong, 315 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: for being able to fix it in the middle of 316 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 1: the season that is not easy to do, and really 317 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: just seeing him do what he can do again after 318 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: going through the issues he did last season physically trying 319 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,080 Speaker 1: to get back to where he was. This is the 320 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: Max Monsely we know. This is the Max Monthly the 321 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 1: Dodgers need. He is the Dede of the week, now 322 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: the dork of the Week. I generally don't like to 323 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: have repeat offenders name someone dork of the Week twice 324 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: in a span of a month. But there comes times 325 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: in any show's existence when you need to adjust. Now, 326 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: I gave this person dork of the Week earlier because 327 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: he puts such a bad team on the field. That 328 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: team is the Oaklen A's, and I'm gonna give that person, 329 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: John Fisher, the owner of the A's, dork of the 330 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: week again because of the Las Vegas move, the planned move, 331 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: I should say to Las Vegas, it's not done yet. 332 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: And as my colleague at the Athletic Tim Kawakami pointed 333 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: out in a great column he wrote over the weekend, 334 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: you can't exactly assume the A's have a deal done 335 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: until they're playing in this new stadium that they've been 336 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: talking about for years. They talk about it in Freemont, California. 337 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,360 Speaker 1: In San Jose, they talked about building a new stadium 338 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 1: on a site at the coliseum where they now play. 339 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: They talked about a site at Landy College in Oakland, 340 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: at the Howard Terminal in Oakland. They went, oh for five. 341 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: Now they have a binding agreement to buy land in Vegas. 342 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: We heard all the news, but they still have to 343 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: get public funding, and who knows how that's going to 344 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: work out. Chances are they end up with it. But 345 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: John Fisher is still the dork of the week, and 346 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: he's still the dork of the week because he didn't 347 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: want to be in Oakland. He talked about, or his 348 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: people talked about being rooted in Oakland, but he tore 349 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: the team down. He basically engaged in a self fulfilling 350 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: prophecy fans won't come, Our stadiums are wreck our team stinks. 351 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: We got to get out of here. That's wrong. And 352 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: I'm not saying a deal in Oakland was easy to 353 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 1: come by. Obviously it wasn't. They've had all kinds of 354 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: issues there. But at the same time, it's a great 355 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: fan base and they've dumped on that fan base. And 356 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: Mark Kurrigg was on Foul Territory last week talking about 357 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: it more eloquently and passionately even than I can. It's 358 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,679 Speaker 1: not right what happened, and for that, I'm going to 359 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 1: give an honorable mention Dork of the Week to the Commissioner, 360 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: Rob Manfred. John Fisher is one of his thirty owners. 361 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: Now I know it's a private business. Rob Manfred can't 362 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,679 Speaker 1: control John Fisher, but he can control what goes on 363 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: in his sport. To a certain degree. And John Fisher 364 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: has benefited from getting revenue sharing over the years, and 365 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 1: he's put horrible teams on the field the last couple 366 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 1: of years, torn down the payroll, basically torn the team 367 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: down to nothing. It's not right, should not be happening, 368 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: and it has happened. So John Fisher again. Dork of 369 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: the Week, Rob Manford honorable mention. I'm not blaming him 370 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: entirely for this. He can't, but I don't know, man. 371 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: John Fisher's taken a lot of revenue sharing money from 372 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: big market teams and doesn't seem to me that he 373 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: spent it all that much or all that Well. That's 374 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: the dude and dork of the week coming up this 375 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: week on Fox. I'm looking forward to this one. Braves 376 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: at Mets. I'm back home after ten days or so 377 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: on the West Coast. Braves at Mets will be a 378 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: fascinating matchup of the two Ali's powers, or I should 379 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: say two of the Ali's powers. Don't want to exclude 380 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: the Phillies. Braves were swept by the Astros over the weekend. 381 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 1: Finally looked a little bit vulnerable, their bullpen shaky in 382 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: some respects, but the biggest question with the Braves right 383 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: now is how long is Marcela Zuna going to stay 384 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: on this team? Zuna right now four for fifty one 385 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: on the season, four for fifty one with fifteen strikeouts, 386 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: and you might say, well, why is he still on 387 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: the roster. Why don't the Braves DFAM very good question, 388 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: and the reason is Marcella Zuna started the season with 389 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: thirty seven million dollars remaining in the final two years 390 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: of his contract. The Braves want to obviously give him 391 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:06,959 Speaker 1: every chance to succeed. I get that, I get how 392 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: the money comes into play, even with his domestic violence suspension. 393 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 1: This is how teams think. I don't necessarily agree with it, 394 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: but they don't want to blow their money. Well, guess 395 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: what the Diamondbacks faced with a pitcher who wasn't throwing 396 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: all that well, who didn't look like he was going 397 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: to turn it around. Just a thirty four million dollars 398 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 1: on Madison Bumgarner's contract. The Diamondbacks did that. The Braves 399 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:33,640 Speaker 1: can do that too, and at some point it's going 400 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,160 Speaker 1: to be an issue for them. They've got Michael Harris 401 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 1: the second and Travis Darnault on the injured list. They're 402 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: going to come off. Roster spots are going to be 403 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: at a premium. Azuna is dead weight at this point. 404 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: They've got to pay him anyway, and maybe at some 405 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 1: point you need to say, as an organization, this isn't working. 406 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: We can't have him here anymore. We've got to take 407 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: the hit. All right, Let's get to the fan questions. 408 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: This one comes from Max Grant. I appreciate him using 409 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: his real name, assuming that is his real name. He says, 410 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: which team are you now starting to worry about after 411 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: their start to the season. I'll tell you which team 412 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 1: I'm worried about. And I know a lot of people 413 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: in baseball believe this team is going to be just fine. 414 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: But I'm worried about the Cardinals and they're already six 415 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: and a half games back. That's not that big a deal. 416 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: It's the Pirates in first place. They can come back. 417 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 1: But the Cardinals, a team that we expected would have 418 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:31,439 Speaker 1: rotation problems, have only three quality starts the whole season. 419 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: Their offense has not been as good as I thought 420 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: it would be and as I think it will be. 421 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 1: Their bullpen has been somewhat shaky as well. But it's 422 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: the rotation that is the biggest issue. And unless they 423 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 1: get that rotation turned around somehow, and I'm not sure 424 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: they can. It's really a collection of threes, fours and fives, 425 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: then they're gonna have problems. And I don't know that 426 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 1: they're going to be the team we all thought they 427 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: could be. Next question comes from Brandon Warren. Is it 428 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: possible for five ale East teams to finish above five hundred? 429 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 1: This is a great question, Brandon, because it's never happened, 430 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 1: not since the realignment in nineteen ninety three, never seen 431 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 1: five teams in any division finish over five hundred. We've 432 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: had some close calls. In fact, the Aleast last year 433 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 1: was a relatively close call, four teams over five hundred, 434 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: the Red Sox at seventy eight and eighty four. So 435 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: this year, can all five in that division finish above 436 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:28,719 Speaker 1: five hundred finished with winning records? I tend to doubt it. 437 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: I don't see the Red Sox being quite that good. 438 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: That they've played better of late. But here's the wrinkle 439 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: that comes into play. The unbalanced schedule is no more. 440 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 1: It's more balanced now. It's not completely balanced, but it's 441 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 1: more balanced. So the Alease teams won't spend as much 442 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:47,880 Speaker 1: time beating up on each other and not playing each 443 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: other nineteen times. They're playing each other thirteen times. And 444 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: with that, playing outside the division, playing some stronger opponents, yes, 445 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: but some weaker opponents as well. It seems to me 446 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: that there is a better chance of all five teams 447 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: going above five hundred than there has been in the past. 448 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,360 Speaker 1: All right, here comes a random question, or at least 449 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:15,719 Speaker 1: a random id Dodgers Kings fan asks, does Jose Iglesias 450 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,919 Speaker 1: make sense for the Dodgers considering the state of the Dodgers' 451 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 1: depth chart at shortstop? Yes, he makes sense. Any live 452 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,120 Speaker 1: body would make sense. They've lost Gavin Lux, they've lost 453 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 1: Rojas for a time. Now. They're playing Mookie Bets at shortstop, 454 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 1: which is cool, and he's really good at it, as 455 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: we've seen, But I don't know that that's something they 456 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:39,440 Speaker 1: want to do long term. Jose Iglesias is a guy 457 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: the Dodgers looked at in spring training after Lux went down. 458 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 1: They didn't sign him. I don't know that they want 459 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 1: to sign him now, and they actually the Dodgers might 460 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: have competition because Iglesias also makes sense for the Giants, 461 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: who really could use a backup for Brandon Crawford. They've 462 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: got Thyrostrada, He's the guy they slide him over. They 463 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: play others at second could be vr, but the Giants 464 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: are a little thin in that regard. And I know 465 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: they've got Casey Schmid at triple A and they're playing 466 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: him at short. But he's a young guy. Still. There 467 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: is some question with Crawford and how long he can 468 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:19,159 Speaker 1: sustain it, how long he'll stay healthy. Iglesias is a 469 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: guy that fits for a number of teams, doesn't fit great. 470 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,119 Speaker 1: If you with such a great fitty'd be with a 471 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: team already. But I don't know that the Dodgers are 472 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: going to jump in that particular case. Heck, watching Mookie 473 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: play sec uh, Heck watching Mookie play short. I don't 474 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 1: know that you want to do it long term, as 475 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:38,120 Speaker 1: I've said, But man, he is so athletic, so good, 476 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: such great baseball ins thinks I wouldn't mind looking at 477 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,159 Speaker 1: it for a little bit longer. This one comes from Mills. 478 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: Are you staying on Twitter after having your verification removed 479 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: or when you leave? Like others who are worried about imposters. Mills, 480 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: this is a good question. And here's something I will 481 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:58,480 Speaker 1: tell you. Yesterday I get a text message from my 482 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: son who says, hey, what are you doing. You're paying 483 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: for the blue check mark. I said, no, I'm not 484 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 1: paying for the blue check mark. He goes, what you 485 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 1: have one? So I guess Elon Musk taketh away and 486 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 1: Elon Musk giveth back at least regard to my blue 487 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 1: check mark. I have no idea whether it will stay 488 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: there or not, but to answer the question, yes, I 489 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: am staying on Twitter. I will stay on as long 490 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 1: as it's a viable way to communicate with fans. The 491 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,919 Speaker 1: moment it becomes not viable, then obviously I'll have to 492 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: think of something else. And I haven't given it much thought. 493 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 1: To be honest, I know Twitter is having major problems, 494 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: but it's still working, at least from my perspective, so 495 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna stay with it. And I guess I need 496 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 1: to thank Elon for the free blue check mark, which 497 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,479 Speaker 1: once he sees this, and I'm sure he's watching, he'll 498 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: almost certainly take away. That's it for this week. Thanks 499 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 1: to everyone for listening, Thanks to everyone for watching. Remember 500 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 1: we're available on YouTube obviously, and we also are available 501 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcast for a podcast or a 502 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: show or whatever you want us to be. So I 503 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: hope everyone has a great week. We'll talk to you 504 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 1: next Monday. 505 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:11,200 Speaker 2: Hey, betmgm is running an MLB bet ten dollars get 506 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 2: one hundred dollars instantly promo when you use the bonus 507 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 2: code spicy MLB. You can get this offer in four 508 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 2: easy steps. Sign up and deposit at least ten dollars 509 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 2: into your newly created account. 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