1
00:00:04,078 --> 00:00:07,358
Speaker 1: The Book of Joe Podcast is a production of iHeartRadio.

2
00:00:15,038 --> 00:00:17,638
Speaker 1: Hey Darren, welcome back to the Book of Joe Podcast.

3
00:00:17,758 --> 00:00:20,598
Speaker 1: It's me Tom Berducci with of course Joe madd and

4
00:00:20,598 --> 00:00:22,598
Speaker 1: we've got opening day coming up.

5
00:00:22,638 --> 00:00:22,838
Speaker 2: Joe.

6
00:00:22,838 --> 00:00:25,078
Speaker 3: We're going to get into that right in a quick

7
00:00:25,118 --> 00:00:25,878
Speaker 3: minute here, But.

8
00:00:25,998 --> 00:00:28,518
Speaker 1: First I want to make sure did you actually drop

9
00:00:28,598 --> 00:00:31,198
Speaker 1: sixteen thousand dollars on an espresso machine?

10
00:00:31,358 --> 00:00:33,998
Speaker 2: No, I would though if I had it.

11
00:00:34,758 --> 00:00:35,998
Speaker 3: Okay, somebody did.

12
00:00:36,438 --> 00:00:39,118
Speaker 1: I'm talking about, of course, the espresso machine that was

13
00:00:39,238 --> 00:00:42,478
Speaker 1: in the team Italy dugout during the WBC. It was

14
00:00:42,518 --> 00:00:46,558
Speaker 1: put out over and the winning bid was sixteen thousand,

15
00:00:46,718 --> 00:00:48,118
Speaker 1: five hundred and ten dollars.

16
00:00:48,358 --> 00:00:49,278
Speaker 3: It's for a good cause.

17
00:00:49,518 --> 00:00:52,798
Speaker 1: The money goes to the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.

18
00:00:53,998 --> 00:00:56,198
Speaker 1: But yeah, it's just one of those simple one cups,

19
00:00:56,238 --> 00:00:59,558
Speaker 1: you know, plastic jobs in sixteen.

20
00:00:59,278 --> 00:01:00,318
Speaker 2: That's what I thought I saw.

21
00:01:00,718 --> 00:01:01,678
Speaker 3: I thought maybe it was you.

22
00:01:02,198 --> 00:01:03,038
Speaker 2: I thought he saw that.

23
00:01:02,998 --> 00:01:04,998
Speaker 4: On TV that when you said that, I thought, I

24
00:01:05,078 --> 00:01:09,278
Speaker 4: remember seeing something very basic. So again, it went to

25
00:01:09,358 --> 00:01:12,238
Speaker 4: a good cause. Somebody overpaid for it. But that's that's

26
00:01:12,278 --> 00:01:12,838
Speaker 4: pretty cool.

27
00:01:13,078 --> 00:01:13,558
Speaker 3: Yeah.

28
00:01:13,558 --> 00:01:17,238
Speaker 1: By the way, the viewing audience for the final of

29
00:01:17,278 --> 00:01:20,118
Speaker 1: the WBC Venezuela USA.

30
00:01:19,758 --> 00:01:22,918
Speaker 3: Drew ten point eight million people.

31
00:01:23,598 --> 00:01:27,078
Speaker 1: That's more than watched every game but one in the

32
00:01:27,198 --> 00:01:30,758
Speaker 1: NBA Finals last year. Wow, and more than nineteen of

33
00:01:30,838 --> 00:01:34,278
Speaker 1: the last thirty five NBA Finals. This is for a

34
00:01:34,358 --> 00:01:40,198
Speaker 1: quote unquote exhibition game in March. It has really arrived

35
00:01:40,238 --> 00:01:43,438
Speaker 1: in terms of buy in by the players and by

36
00:01:43,478 --> 00:01:48,678
Speaker 1: the fans. And please, please, people stop with talk about

37
00:01:48,718 --> 00:01:52,358
Speaker 1: moving it to the All Star Break. We just established

38
00:01:52,398 --> 00:01:54,678
Speaker 1: this thing as a tent pole in the baseball calendar

39
00:01:54,678 --> 00:01:55,038
Speaker 1: in March.

40
00:01:55,078 --> 00:01:56,598
Speaker 3: It's a great run up to Opening Day.

41
00:01:57,398 --> 00:02:00,718
Speaker 1: Joe, Why do people, especially in baseball, it seems to me,

42
00:02:01,598 --> 00:02:05,478
Speaker 1: think they need to fix quote unquote everything, even what's good.

43
00:02:06,118 --> 00:02:07,878
Speaker 3: Sometimes just leave it alone.

44
00:02:08,758 --> 00:02:13,078
Speaker 4: Yeah it sometimes it can't help yourself everybody. It's just

45
00:02:13,158 --> 00:02:15,078
Speaker 4: in general, just the way the game is structured and

46
00:02:15,158 --> 00:02:16,518
Speaker 4: run right now, and it's.

47
00:02:16,358 --> 00:02:17,958
Speaker 2: So tight to the best.

48
00:02:18,918 --> 00:02:21,598
Speaker 4: Honestly, fun has been put on the back burner, although

49
00:02:21,878 --> 00:02:24,798
Speaker 4: it appeared to be a lot of fun, and it is. However,

50
00:02:24,918 --> 00:02:26,798
Speaker 4: there's a lot of stress involved in that you're playing

51
00:02:26,798 --> 00:02:29,878
Speaker 4: in March. People can't talking about players getting insurance, You're

52
00:02:29,878 --> 00:02:32,838
Speaker 4: talking about players getting hurt. You're talking about managers having

53
00:02:32,838 --> 00:02:34,638
Speaker 4: to call into front offices to see who's.

54
00:02:34,478 --> 00:02:35,158
Speaker 2: Available or not.

55
00:02:36,238 --> 00:02:40,398
Speaker 4: There's just there's this really overwhelming sense of having to

56
00:02:40,438 --> 00:02:41,158
Speaker 4: control things.

57
00:02:41,238 --> 00:02:43,398
Speaker 3: And by the way, Joe, sorry to interrupt you, there

58
00:02:43,558 --> 00:02:44,718
Speaker 3: no go ahead please.

59
00:02:44,598 --> 00:02:48,158
Speaker 1: If you play it during the All Star break, those

60
00:02:48,278 --> 00:02:50,238
Speaker 1: same issues are in play.

61
00:02:50,278 --> 00:02:52,878
Speaker 3: Do you really think the Dodgers are gonna yet?

62
00:02:52,958 --> 00:02:56,678
Speaker 1: No, Let Yoshinobu Yamamoto throw seven or eight innings in

63
00:02:56,718 --> 00:02:59,798
Speaker 1: a game that has no effect on the standings in July, when,

64
00:02:59,838 --> 00:03:02,998
Speaker 1: as you know, everybody is looking to give their guys

65
00:03:02,998 --> 00:03:04,638
Speaker 1: a pit stop for the mid season.

66
00:03:05,118 --> 00:03:08,038
Speaker 4: Yeah, listen, I'm I'm in. I wanted a pit stop

67
00:03:08,038 --> 00:03:09,278
Speaker 4: in the middle of the season. I mean, having to

68
00:03:09,318 --> 00:03:11,118
Speaker 4: go to the All Star Games wonderful. But I'll tell

69
00:03:11,158 --> 00:03:14,358
Speaker 4: you what's It's tough when you have no break during

70
00:03:14,358 --> 00:03:15,678
Speaker 4: the course of the year at all.

71
00:03:16,278 --> 00:03:17,038
Speaker 2: It is difficult.

72
00:03:17,118 --> 00:03:18,918
Speaker 4: But what I was beginning to say, I think this

73
00:03:18,958 --> 00:03:21,958
Speaker 4: morning I saw a feed on Don Zimmer and Jerry

74
00:03:21,998 --> 00:03:25,438
Speaker 4: Crawford getting after it during a game in Cincinnati with

75
00:03:25,558 --> 00:03:28,358
Speaker 4: Sutcliffe had a net Pat gets called on on a

76
00:03:28,718 --> 00:03:31,078
Speaker 4: check swinging and Zim said something from the dugout and

77
00:03:31,078 --> 00:03:33,158
Speaker 4: here we go. But I'm watching Zim come out from

78
00:03:33,198 --> 00:03:35,598
Speaker 4: the dugout. I'm watching him and Jerry, are you? And

79
00:03:35,598 --> 00:03:38,438
Speaker 4: I love Jerry Crawford. Also, it was so good, it

80
00:03:38,518 --> 00:03:41,718
Speaker 4: was so entertaining, it was so real, And my only

81
00:03:41,798 --> 00:03:45,318
Speaker 4: takeaway from it was the fact that the manager, Zim

82
00:03:45,358 --> 00:03:47,398
Speaker 4: was omnipotent in a sense that he was running the

83
00:03:47,398 --> 00:03:51,078
Speaker 4: Cubs without really any any kind of interference.

84
00:03:51,118 --> 00:03:52,598
Speaker 2: Is that a good or bad thing? I don't see

85
00:03:52,598 --> 00:03:53,278
Speaker 2: why it's a bad thing.

86
00:03:53,278 --> 00:03:55,718
Speaker 4: I don't think any teams are better, and I don't

87
00:03:55,758 --> 00:03:57,678
Speaker 4: think the team's back there were worse. For the fact

88
00:03:57,958 --> 00:04:01,878
Speaker 4: the way the power structure was implemented, it's just different

89
00:04:01,958 --> 00:04:07,278
Speaker 4: the way everybody wants to control outcomes and situations compared

90
00:04:07,318 --> 00:04:10,798
Speaker 4: to back then, when the control lever was smaller, shorter,

91
00:04:11,558 --> 00:04:14,998
Speaker 4: the manager was pretty much he had dominant rain over

92
00:04:15,118 --> 00:04:18,438
Speaker 4: the control lever, where today it's so spread out and

93
00:04:18,518 --> 00:04:22,038
Speaker 4: it's so the control lever needs to be controllers, and

94
00:04:22,118 --> 00:04:23,838
Speaker 4: back in the day it didn't have to be controlled

95
00:04:23,878 --> 00:04:26,678
Speaker 4: so much. So I enjoyed that. I really watching Zim

96
00:04:26,718 --> 00:04:29,798
Speaker 4: getting after it. I saw Jerry get after it, very entertaining.

97
00:04:30,358 --> 00:04:33,318
Speaker 4: Just the point is going back that you're talking about,

98
00:04:32,678 --> 00:04:37,198
Speaker 4: the need it seems to be to have to control

99
00:04:37,278 --> 00:04:40,878
Speaker 4: things and not just permit things to play out sometimes.

100
00:04:41,158 --> 00:04:42,638
Speaker 2: Again, I really.

101
00:04:42,358 --> 00:04:45,158
Speaker 4: Believe if the Dodgers did not have one ounce of

102
00:04:45,198 --> 00:04:48,078
Speaker 4: analytics but had the same group of players that they have,

103
00:04:48,878 --> 00:04:51,438
Speaker 4: and every other team had the best analytical department in

104
00:04:51,438 --> 00:04:53,598
Speaker 4: the world with the same players that they have, the

105
00:04:53,638 --> 00:04:54,638
Speaker 4: Dodgers would still win.

106
00:04:54,878 --> 00:04:57,798
Speaker 1: Well, that's a great transition, Joe, to a topic I

107
00:04:57,838 --> 00:04:59,998
Speaker 1: want to talk about, since Opening Day is right around

108
00:04:59,998 --> 00:05:02,518
Speaker 1: the corner here. You hear it all the time, the

109
00:05:02,558 --> 00:05:06,998
Speaker 1: phrase getting all off to a good start, and I

110
00:05:07,038 --> 00:05:09,398
Speaker 1: want to talk to you about that. From the manager's perspective,

111
00:05:09,398 --> 00:05:11,918
Speaker 1: we know how important that everybody wants to get off

112
00:05:11,918 --> 00:05:13,038
Speaker 1: to a good start, whether it's.

113
00:05:12,958 --> 00:05:14,278
Speaker 3: A team or whether it's a player.

114
00:05:14,438 --> 00:05:16,318
Speaker 1: You can see guys almost relaxed when they get their

115
00:05:16,358 --> 00:05:21,278
Speaker 1: first hit, So how important is it. I'll just remind

116
00:05:21,318 --> 00:05:24,158
Speaker 1: you that last year, the team that was tied with

117
00:05:24,198 --> 00:05:26,158
Speaker 1: the Dodgers for the best record at the end of

118
00:05:26,198 --> 00:05:28,238
Speaker 1: April was the New York Mets.

119
00:05:28,718 --> 00:05:30,318
Speaker 3: They did not make the playoffs.

120
00:05:30,918 --> 00:05:33,558
Speaker 1: The Toronto Blue Jays, who did make the World Series

121
00:05:33,558 --> 00:05:35,518
Speaker 1: and came within two outs of winning the darn thing,

122
00:05:36,278 --> 00:05:39,358
Speaker 1: were fourteen and sixteen, the fifth worst record in the

123
00:05:39,358 --> 00:05:43,198
Speaker 1: American League. Basically, Joe, the bottom line, and I'm going

124
00:05:43,238 --> 00:05:45,158
Speaker 1: to go through this with you and the teams you've had.

125
00:05:46,198 --> 00:05:49,078
Speaker 1: There are many different ways to get to the World Series.

126
00:05:49,238 --> 00:05:52,918
Speaker 1: Getting off to a good start. Yeah, everybody wants it.

127
00:05:52,918 --> 00:05:56,438
Speaker 1: It's not paramount. The old saying is you can lose

128
00:05:56,638 --> 00:06:00,438
Speaker 1: a postseason spot in April, but you can't really win it.

129
00:06:00,478 --> 00:06:03,358
Speaker 1: To you, Joe, as a manager, how important was it

130
00:06:03,438 --> 00:06:04,558
Speaker 1: to get off a good start?

131
00:06:05,038 --> 00:06:06,358
Speaker 2: I talked about it all the time.

132
00:06:06,478 --> 00:06:09,878
Speaker 4: I mean, I'm I'm looking for the ability to absorb

133
00:06:09,958 --> 00:06:12,078
Speaker 4: that bad moment that's going to happen. You're going to

134
00:06:12,158 --> 00:06:15,558
Speaker 4: have that bad moment, and it's just like when you

135
00:06:15,598 --> 00:06:17,838
Speaker 4: start your you know, the record is so glaring and

136
00:06:17,878 --> 00:06:20,238
Speaker 4: everybody's on top of it, and sometimes you could create

137
00:06:20,278 --> 00:06:22,838
Speaker 4: a really negative narrative. And you're right that the Nationals

138
00:06:22,838 --> 00:06:25,558
Speaker 4: did it a couple of years ago, horrible start winning

139
00:06:25,558 --> 00:06:26,118
Speaker 4: the World Series.

140
00:06:26,198 --> 00:06:27,078
Speaker 2: Of course it can happen.

141
00:06:27,278 --> 00:06:28,838
Speaker 4: But then I was part of the Rays going to

142
00:06:28,838 --> 00:06:30,398
Speaker 4: a World Series with the good start, and I've been

143
00:06:30,438 --> 00:06:32,838
Speaker 4: part of a Cubs team going to the World Series.

144
00:06:32,638 --> 00:06:35,678
Speaker 2: With a good start. I prefer the good starts, just

145
00:06:35,718 --> 00:06:37,878
Speaker 2: to be able to absorb that bad moment. I would

146
00:06:37,918 --> 00:06:38,998
Speaker 2: talk to the guys about that.

147
00:06:39,078 --> 00:06:41,238
Speaker 4: Listen, it's going to go bad here at some point,

148
00:06:41,318 --> 00:06:43,358
Speaker 4: and how we react to that bad moment's going to

149
00:06:44,318 --> 00:06:46,838
Speaker 4: separate us and permit us either to go on to

150
00:06:46,918 --> 00:06:48,998
Speaker 4: good things or not. When the Rays went to the

151
00:06:48,998 --> 00:06:51,358
Speaker 4: World Series, we had two seven game losing streaks during

152
00:06:51,358 --> 00:06:54,638
Speaker 4: the course of that season. Bad moments, difficult moments. But

153
00:06:54,678 --> 00:06:58,678
Speaker 4: then again, I thought that the good start then helped

154
00:06:58,718 --> 00:07:01,438
Speaker 4: permits you mentally to absorb these a little bit better.

155
00:07:01,798 --> 00:07:03,438
Speaker 4: I think the teams that get off to a good

156
00:07:03,438 --> 00:07:06,598
Speaker 4: start and then go south something probably happened, maybe injury wise,

157
00:07:07,478 --> 00:07:08,998
Speaker 4: but a lot of times when the team gets off

158
00:07:08,998 --> 00:07:11,918
Speaker 4: to a good start, could you if you were with

159
00:07:11,998 --> 00:07:13,998
Speaker 4: the Cubs at that time or with the Rays at

160
00:07:14,038 --> 00:07:16,478
Speaker 4: that time, you would have felt it. And even in

161
00:07:16,518 --> 00:07:18,438
Speaker 4: two thousand and two, the Angels got out to a

162
00:07:18,438 --> 00:07:20,758
Speaker 4: bad start, that was here my pop passed the way

163
00:07:20,758 --> 00:07:24,638
Speaker 4: I remember, I think we were like six and fourteen, maybe.

164
00:07:24,438 --> 00:07:30,118
Speaker 1: Rateing fourteen exactly. You started six and fourteen. After twenty games, yeah,

165
00:07:30,158 --> 00:07:33,078
Speaker 1: the Angels were ten and a half games out. That's

166
00:07:33,118 --> 00:07:36,278
Speaker 1: almost unbelievable, massa twenty games to be ten and a

167
00:07:36,318 --> 00:07:38,478
Speaker 1: half out, and you wind up winning the Pennant.

168
00:07:38,718 --> 00:07:42,158
Speaker 4: I'm sitting in Pennsylvania, you know, I'm tending my dad's services,

169
00:07:42,318 --> 00:07:44,838
Speaker 4: and the game happened to me. And We're playing Oakland

170
00:07:45,118 --> 00:07:49,038
Speaker 4: and watching the game, and I'm seeing that Mike Mearsy

171
00:07:49,078 --> 00:07:52,798
Speaker 4: hit a home run I think for Oakland Myers the catcher,

172
00:07:52,838 --> 00:07:54,878
Speaker 4: and we lose, and I'm looking at our guys and

173
00:07:55,318 --> 00:07:57,838
Speaker 4: just from the TV screen, it looks so defeated, and

174
00:07:57,878 --> 00:07:59,478
Speaker 4: I'm thinking, my god, how are we going to fix this?

175
00:07:59,518 --> 00:08:01,398
Speaker 4: Because we were coming off a bad ending of the

176
00:08:01,438 --> 00:08:05,078
Speaker 4: previous year nine to eleven when that happened.

177
00:08:05,118 --> 00:08:07,918
Speaker 2: I mean, by god, we were terrible after that.

178
00:08:08,398 --> 00:08:11,238
Speaker 4: You know, just you know, flying around in your heads

179
00:08:11,238 --> 00:08:15,078
Speaker 4: and literally not in the clouds. You're just not grounded

180
00:08:15,118 --> 00:08:16,998
Speaker 4: at all. But anyway, here comes two thousand and two.

181
00:08:16,998 --> 00:08:20,318
Speaker 4: We were confronted with who's going to play shortstop. We

182
00:08:20,398 --> 00:08:23,318
Speaker 4: had Benji Gill doing it and Adam Kennedy at second.

183
00:08:23,358 --> 00:08:25,958
Speaker 4: We were trying to get Exstein involved and then eventually

184
00:08:26,038 --> 00:08:28,598
Speaker 4: we decided on David. And David had a big weekend

185
00:08:28,638 --> 00:08:31,238
Speaker 4: against the Blue Jays in Anaheim.

186
00:08:31,318 --> 00:08:32,358
Speaker 2: I had a couple of Grand.

187
00:08:32,118 --> 00:08:33,558
Speaker 4: Slams, believe it or not, Right down on the left

188
00:08:33,598 --> 00:08:35,678
Speaker 4: field line. That's what he did, and all of a

189
00:08:35,718 --> 00:08:38,718
Speaker 4: sudden things just changed. And then all of a sudden,

190
00:08:38,958 --> 00:08:44,758
Speaker 4: the rotation followed where Sean Wootin became him and Benji

191
00:08:44,758 --> 00:08:47,238
Speaker 4: started killing lefties, and all of a sudden, we had

192
00:08:47,238 --> 00:08:48,758
Speaker 4: this nice rotation going on here.

193
00:08:48,798 --> 00:08:49,598
Speaker 2: We just took off.

194
00:08:49,998 --> 00:08:53,638
Speaker 4: So I don't know that there's one formula, obviously, because

195
00:08:53,638 --> 00:08:56,958
Speaker 4: there's so many examples both ways. But from a managerial perspective,

196
00:08:57,198 --> 00:09:00,558
Speaker 4: I preached it anything I wanted us to be during

197
00:09:00,598 --> 00:09:02,638
Speaker 4: the course of the season. I talked a lot about

198
00:09:02,638 --> 00:09:05,638
Speaker 4: it during camp to be part of my original meeting.

199
00:09:06,238 --> 00:09:08,078
Speaker 4: I would talk about these things, and I would talk

200
00:09:08,118 --> 00:09:12,518
Speaker 4: specifically about the ability to absorb bad moments. So that's it.

201
00:09:12,558 --> 00:09:14,558
Speaker 4: I mean, I've seen it from both sides. I prefer

202
00:09:15,038 --> 00:09:16,278
Speaker 4: getting off to a good start.

203
00:09:16,878 --> 00:09:20,478
Speaker 1: Yeah, two thousand and eight Rays actually started eight and eleven.

204
00:09:20,798 --> 00:09:24,318
Speaker 1: But then when seven of the last of the next eight, yeah,

205
00:09:24,358 --> 00:09:27,278
Speaker 1: to finish come out of April at fifteen and twelve.

206
00:09:27,678 --> 00:09:29,558
Speaker 4: Yeah, that was another good thing. I used to go

207
00:09:29,638 --> 00:09:31,758
Speaker 4: by the months. I wanted to win the month. That

208
00:09:31,878 --> 00:09:34,078
Speaker 4: was a big thing for me. You want to win

209
00:09:34,118 --> 00:09:35,478
Speaker 4: the week, and then you want to win the month,

210
00:09:35,478 --> 00:09:37,518
Speaker 4: and I used to look at those things as markers

211
00:09:37,518 --> 00:09:37,998
Speaker 4: all the time.

212
00:09:38,198 --> 00:09:42,438
Speaker 1: And then the twenty sixteen Cubs, my goodness, seventeen to

213
00:09:42,518 --> 00:09:46,358
Speaker 1: five coming out of April. If the extended a little farther,

214
00:09:46,758 --> 00:09:50,798
Speaker 1: twenty five and six, an eight and a half game

215
00:09:50,958 --> 00:09:54,358
Speaker 1: lead after thirty one games. Basically, you blew the doors

216
00:09:54,398 --> 00:09:57,078
Speaker 1: off the division. I don't want to say you salted

217
00:09:57,118 --> 00:09:59,878
Speaker 1: it away, but you had it pretty much locked up

218
00:09:59,998 --> 00:10:01,918
Speaker 1: by even before school was out.

219
00:10:02,118 --> 00:10:04,998
Speaker 4: Yeah, and then the guys felt it something to be felt.

220
00:10:05,518 --> 00:10:07,518
Speaker 4: And then you get that city being turned on, in

221
00:10:07,558 --> 00:10:08,838
Speaker 4: that ballpark being turned on.

222
00:10:09,198 --> 00:10:10,878
Speaker 2: And then again you look at our players too.

223
00:10:10,918 --> 00:10:14,958
Speaker 4: I mean, it was such a wonderful mix of veterans

224
00:10:14,958 --> 00:10:17,518
Speaker 4: and youth. We were the youngest team to win a

225
00:10:17,558 --> 00:10:19,838
Speaker 4: World Series apparently at the end of it all. But

226
00:10:19,918 --> 00:10:23,598
Speaker 4: that wouldn't have happened without all these wonderful veterans mixed

227
00:10:23,598 --> 00:10:26,678
Speaker 4: within that group, whether it was David or Miggy, you know,

228
00:10:26,798 --> 00:10:30,758
Speaker 4: John Lackey, Jake was a veteran at that time. Jason

229
00:10:30,798 --> 00:10:32,678
Speaker 4: Heyward was a young veteran at that time. I mean,

230
00:10:32,678 --> 00:10:34,638
Speaker 4: we just and Dexter, we had all this, We had

231
00:10:34,638 --> 00:10:38,998
Speaker 4: this bland man and I look at it as I

232
00:10:38,998 --> 00:10:40,878
Speaker 4: thought it was such a charismatic group. It was so

233
00:10:40,958 --> 00:10:43,398
Speaker 4: fun to be with these guys every day. They took

234
00:10:43,438 --> 00:10:45,438
Speaker 4: care of their own clubhouse, et cetera. But anyway, it

235
00:10:45,478 --> 00:10:47,758
Speaker 4: was all about, I thought, getting off to the good start.

236
00:10:47,798 --> 00:10:50,038
Speaker 4: And then it became believable that was coming off of

237
00:10:50,078 --> 00:10:53,078
Speaker 4: a really good twenty fifteen where nobody thought we would

238
00:10:53,078 --> 00:10:54,678
Speaker 4: have gotten to the NLCS.

239
00:10:55,038 --> 00:10:57,118
Speaker 1: Yeah, which brings me to a point that I have

240
00:10:57,198 --> 00:10:58,838
Speaker 1: and I want to get your take on this, Joe,

241
00:10:58,918 --> 00:11:01,718
Speaker 1: that it's important to get off to a good start

242
00:11:01,878 --> 00:11:03,798
Speaker 1: for teams that aren't.

243
00:11:03,518 --> 00:11:06,318
Speaker 3: Sure of what they are sure, Like if you're.

244
00:11:06,158 --> 00:11:09,598
Speaker 1: A team that has been crystallized, like your team in sixteen,

245
00:11:09,838 --> 00:11:12,478
Speaker 1: as you mentioned, a younger team but the playoff running fifteen,

246
00:11:12,518 --> 00:11:15,358
Speaker 1: you pretty much knew who you were, not a lot

247
00:11:15,358 --> 00:11:18,398
Speaker 1: of open questions and not a lot of changes, right.

248
00:11:19,358 --> 00:11:21,678
Speaker 1: I look at a team like the Yankees and the Phillies,

249
00:11:21,718 --> 00:11:23,918
Speaker 1: the teams that are the Dodgers, teams that essentially are

250
00:11:23,958 --> 00:11:27,318
Speaker 1: running it back this year. They know who they are, right,

251
00:11:27,358 --> 00:11:31,438
Speaker 1: They've established an identity, established a way of winning. If

252
00:11:31,438 --> 00:11:33,918
Speaker 1: you don't start well, you don't panic, You still know

253
00:11:33,958 --> 00:11:36,358
Speaker 1: who you are. I look at teams that made a

254
00:11:36,358 --> 00:11:39,318
Speaker 1: lot of changes, whether it's the manager or personnel and

255
00:11:39,558 --> 00:11:42,038
Speaker 1: or both. I think it's important for them to get

256
00:11:42,038 --> 00:11:44,318
Speaker 1: off to a good start. And that's why I think

257
00:11:44,398 --> 00:11:46,318
Speaker 1: the team this year out of the thirty Major league

258
00:11:46,358 --> 00:11:48,518
Speaker 1: teams that's essential to get off to the good start

259
00:11:48,638 --> 00:11:51,158
Speaker 1: is the New York Mets. They'll put their lineup on

260
00:11:51,158 --> 00:11:55,478
Speaker 1: the field opening day against Paul Skiings with essentially only

261
00:11:55,518 --> 00:12:00,118
Speaker 1: Francisco Lindor at the same position as started.

262
00:11:59,798 --> 00:12:00,878
Speaker 3: Opening day last year.

263
00:12:01,238 --> 00:12:04,598
Speaker 1: In the outfield is entirely new, with once So moving

264
00:12:05,198 --> 00:12:08,678
Speaker 1: to left field, Luis Robert Junior in centerfield, Carson Benge,

265
00:12:08,718 --> 00:12:11,878
Speaker 1: the rookie, gets the start, and right field. They've got

266
00:12:11,878 --> 00:12:14,878
Speaker 1: two shortstops playing on the corners with Polanco and Bashett.

267
00:12:14,958 --> 00:12:18,918
Speaker 1: They've got Marcus Simi at second base Francis galver As catching.

268
00:12:18,958 --> 00:12:20,838
Speaker 1: He was not in the opening day lineup last year,

269
00:12:21,358 --> 00:12:24,798
Speaker 1: so that's a lot of change. Back into the bullpen

270
00:12:25,078 --> 00:12:29,438
Speaker 1: obviously has changed, with Devin Williams replacing Edwin Diaz. The

271
00:12:29,518 --> 00:12:34,198
Speaker 1: coaching staff was almost entirely flipped. This is a team

272
00:12:34,318 --> 00:12:37,038
Speaker 1: I think, even though it's more of a veteran team, Joe,

273
00:12:37,358 --> 00:12:39,158
Speaker 1: I think they really need to get off to a

274
00:12:39,198 --> 00:12:42,478
Speaker 1: good start to have convinced themselves more than the rest

275
00:12:42,478 --> 00:12:45,518
Speaker 1: of the world that they are a good team. Give

276
00:12:45,558 --> 00:12:48,438
Speaker 1: me your thoughts on the Mets, and again, it's New York.

277
00:12:48,558 --> 00:12:50,238
Speaker 1: If you don't start well, and I'm talking about the

278
00:12:50,238 --> 00:12:53,158
Speaker 1: first week of the season, not the first month, you're

279
00:12:53,158 --> 00:12:53,718
Speaker 1: gonna hear it.

280
00:12:53,838 --> 00:12:56,278
Speaker 3: And I think that's when some of the doubts may

281
00:12:56,318 --> 00:12:56,758
Speaker 3: creep in.

282
00:12:57,398 --> 00:12:59,798
Speaker 4: Well, your I think your evaluation is right on that.

283
00:12:59,838 --> 00:13:02,118
Speaker 4: Those are a really good points you just made regarding

284
00:13:02,638 --> 00:13:05,838
Speaker 4: teams that have recently done it have a culture established

285
00:13:05,878 --> 00:13:08,678
Speaker 4: as compared to those who do not. Yeah, I think

286
00:13:08,718 --> 00:13:11,638
Speaker 4: the Mets have a nice group, and it was It's

287
00:13:11,678 --> 00:13:12,798
Speaker 4: going to be part of what I was going to

288
00:13:12,838 --> 00:13:14,558
Speaker 4: talk about later when we get to the end. But

289
00:13:14,998 --> 00:13:17,278
Speaker 4: you know, they're they're projected according to the New York Post,

290
00:13:17,278 --> 00:13:19,198
Speaker 4: which can be a little bit biased, but their numbers

291
00:13:19,198 --> 00:13:23,318
Speaker 4: and projected win total. They got new guys at a

292
00:13:23,318 --> 00:13:25,678
Speaker 4: lot of positions and guys playing different positions, and that

293
00:13:25,798 --> 00:13:29,478
Speaker 4: to me is you know on paper that you know,

294
00:13:29,518 --> 00:13:32,478
Speaker 4: like Bow going a third base and Polanco at first base.

295
00:13:32,238 --> 00:13:33,158
Speaker 2: And these kind of things.

296
00:13:34,318 --> 00:13:37,678
Speaker 4: Simeon at second base was done before, but it's thirty

297
00:13:37,678 --> 00:13:38,678
Speaker 4: five years of age.

298
00:13:38,958 --> 00:13:39,318
Speaker 2: I don't know.

299
00:13:39,398 --> 00:13:42,078
Speaker 4: I mean, they're nice names. I'm curious. I'm just curious

300
00:13:42,118 --> 00:13:44,118
Speaker 4: to see how this all holds up. I like some

301
00:13:44,198 --> 00:13:47,478
Speaker 4: of their young pitching, of course, McLean. I mean, they

302
00:13:47,558 --> 00:13:49,758
Speaker 4: got some really good stuff going on there, but again

303
00:13:50,118 --> 00:13:52,758
Speaker 4: their bullpen has got like these, these refurbished names from

304
00:13:52,758 --> 00:13:54,678
Speaker 4: the Yankees, and Williams was.

305
00:13:54,598 --> 00:13:55,038
Speaker 2: Not the same.

306
00:13:55,078 --> 00:13:56,918
Speaker 4: I mean, I know his numbers. I mean I guess

307
00:13:56,998 --> 00:13:59,838
Speaker 4: the if you break them down, it was still a.

308
00:13:59,918 --> 00:14:00,718
Speaker 2: Very good year for him.

309
00:14:00,718 --> 00:14:02,718
Speaker 4: But then again, if by the eyeball test, I didn't

310
00:14:02,758 --> 00:14:04,278
Speaker 4: think it was as good as it i'd been.

311
00:14:04,758 --> 00:14:05,838
Speaker 2: And the same thing with Warren.

312
00:14:05,918 --> 00:14:08,158
Speaker 4: So there's a lot of unanswered questions there, and they

313
00:14:08,238 --> 00:14:10,118
Speaker 4: they're putting back in the bullpen because all of a

314
00:14:10,158 --> 00:14:12,918
Speaker 4: sudden his velocity is down. Although he could be in

315
00:14:12,958 --> 00:14:15,238
Speaker 4: the starting rotation within a week or so, it depends

316
00:14:15,278 --> 00:14:16,238
Speaker 4: on injuries.

317
00:14:15,838 --> 00:14:20,678
Speaker 2: Et cetera. So I think there's a lot of question

318
00:14:20,758 --> 00:14:21,198
Speaker 2: marks there.

319
00:14:21,198 --> 00:14:24,158
Speaker 4: I mean, the hamlet bone that Lindor's coming back from

320
00:14:24,398 --> 00:14:27,398
Speaker 4: very interesting. Normally you know, of course that does heal,

321
00:14:27,478 --> 00:14:30,118
Speaker 4: but sometimes it takes a while for a hitter to

322
00:14:30,158 --> 00:14:32,478
Speaker 4: get over that and really trust his hand et cetera.

323
00:14:32,918 --> 00:14:34,638
Speaker 4: And plus the fact they didn't get all the reps

324
00:14:34,678 --> 00:14:37,118
Speaker 4: during camp, and again that could lead to a less

325
00:14:37,158 --> 00:14:38,038
Speaker 4: than perfect start.

326
00:14:38,198 --> 00:14:40,758
Speaker 2: So there's a lot of question marks there.

327
00:14:40,798 --> 00:14:43,918
Speaker 4: So it's kind of surprised that they were picked above

328
00:14:43,958 --> 00:14:46,278
Speaker 4: the Phillies and the Braves going into this thing right

329
00:14:46,318 --> 00:14:50,318
Speaker 4: now according to the New York Post the Bible. But yeah,

330
00:14:50,398 --> 00:14:53,118
Speaker 4: I'm not completely sold. I like what they did.

331
00:14:53,158 --> 00:14:53,518
Speaker 2: I do.

332
00:14:54,078 --> 00:14:56,798
Speaker 4: I'm a fan of what they did, Sterns did, but

333
00:14:56,918 --> 00:14:58,758
Speaker 4: I still think it has to play out because there's

334
00:14:58,798 --> 00:15:01,038
Speaker 4: a lot of moving parts there that guy's got to

335
00:15:01,078 --> 00:15:01,798
Speaker 4: get comfortable with.

336
00:15:02,038 --> 00:15:03,358
Speaker 3: Yeah, we're going to take a quick break.

337
00:15:03,398 --> 00:15:04,998
Speaker 1: We get back, we're going to talk about what you

338
00:15:05,078 --> 00:15:09,558
Speaker 1: just brought up, Joe. Win totals and predictions for who's

339
00:15:09,598 --> 00:15:12,838
Speaker 1: going to be a surprise team if any this year.

340
00:15:13,518 --> 00:15:15,958
Speaker 1: But I think you're going to be surprised if you

341
00:15:15,998 --> 00:15:19,038
Speaker 1: haven't been already on the one team that has been

342
00:15:19,038 --> 00:15:22,998
Speaker 1: picked to most challenge the LA Dodgers in the National League.

343
00:15:23,598 --> 00:15:25,878
Speaker 1: We'll reveal who that team is right after this on

344
00:15:25,958 --> 00:15:40,118
Speaker 1: the Book of Joe. Well, Joe, it's not just the

345
00:15:40,118 --> 00:15:43,558
Speaker 1: New York Boast, Uh, it's Vegas. Looking at win totals,

346
00:15:43,598 --> 00:15:46,878
Speaker 1: for teams. Now, I realize this is not, you know,

347
00:15:47,118 --> 00:15:47,998
Speaker 1: entirely a one.

348
00:15:48,158 --> 00:15:50,358
Speaker 3: Percent evaluation of a team's talent.

349
00:15:50,478 --> 00:15:53,398
Speaker 1: A lot of times it reflects the betting market and

350
00:15:53,518 --> 00:15:56,438
Speaker 1: who's who's betting on what teams. But if you look

351
00:15:56,478 --> 00:16:00,118
Speaker 1: at projected win totals, obviously the Dodgers a number one

352
00:16:00,198 --> 00:16:02,798
Speaker 1: Baseball as they should be they have. Vegas has them

353
00:16:02,798 --> 00:16:05,758
Speaker 1: at one oh three half, which I think is actually

354
00:16:05,798 --> 00:16:09,358
Speaker 1: way too high because the Dodgers have learned that they

355
00:16:09,398 --> 00:16:12,718
Speaker 1: do not go all out to pile up as many

356
00:16:12,798 --> 00:16:13,598
Speaker 1: wins as they can.

357
00:16:14,198 --> 00:16:15,758
Speaker 3: They just don't. I'm sorry.

358
00:16:15,878 --> 00:16:19,318
Speaker 1: It's about making sure their pitchers are healthy in October.

359
00:16:19,358 --> 00:16:21,078
Speaker 1: If it cost them a win here or there, they're

360
00:16:21,078 --> 00:16:23,638
Speaker 1: more than happy to sign up for that. So I

361
00:16:23,678 --> 00:16:26,238
Speaker 1: would go below that. But the one team they have,

362
00:16:26,438 --> 00:16:28,758
Speaker 1: actually there's two. But in the National League, the team

363
00:16:28,798 --> 00:16:31,438
Speaker 1: that to most challenge the Dodgers as far as total

364
00:16:31,438 --> 00:16:35,158
Speaker 1: win total at ninety and a half wins is the

365
00:16:35,198 --> 00:16:37,678
Speaker 1: New York Mets, And I'm with you, Joe.

366
00:16:37,718 --> 00:16:40,718
Speaker 3: I would not have them above the Philadelphia Phillies.

367
00:16:40,918 --> 00:16:43,118
Speaker 1: I'm not sure to have them over the Chicago Cubs.

368
00:16:44,358 --> 00:16:46,038
Speaker 1: Bras are a different story. We'll get to them.

369
00:16:46,078 --> 00:16:46,518
Speaker 3: The minute.

370
00:16:47,558 --> 00:16:49,598
Speaker 1: But who do you see as the one team in

371
00:16:49,638 --> 00:16:53,958
Speaker 1: the National League that can most challenge the LA Dodgers

372
00:16:54,318 --> 00:16:55,798
Speaker 1: for the National League Pennant.

373
00:16:55,758 --> 00:16:58,998
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I was the first thing that stood

374
00:16:58,998 --> 00:17:01,678
Speaker 4: out to me was the parody involved in these numbers.

375
00:17:01,758 --> 00:17:04,598
Speaker 4: I mean, there was only one team that blew their division,

376
00:17:04,638 --> 00:17:07,158
Speaker 4: like you suggested, was the Dodgers. Everything else was kind

377
00:17:07,158 --> 00:17:09,598
Speaker 4: of like even steven to the point, and some of

378
00:17:09,638 --> 00:17:12,038
Speaker 4: them were like between number one and two and three

379
00:17:12,198 --> 00:17:15,438
Speaker 4: was like a tremendous disparity. And even the one group

380
00:17:15,998 --> 00:17:18,638
Speaker 4: and again the Post picked the Brewers at eighty four

381
00:17:18,638 --> 00:17:22,158
Speaker 4: and a half wins to beat the Cubs at eighty

382
00:17:22,238 --> 00:17:22,638
Speaker 4: and a half.

383
00:17:22,638 --> 00:17:24,798
Speaker 2: I don't even if they misprinted that or not. But

384
00:17:25,358 --> 00:17:27,838
Speaker 2: if there's one, if there's one club, I still I

385
00:17:27,958 --> 00:17:30,838
Speaker 2: still like. I still like is the Phillies. I do.

386
00:17:31,118 --> 00:17:33,518
Speaker 4: I still like the Phillies. I know the fact that

387
00:17:33,558 --> 00:17:35,958
Speaker 4: Schure went back there. You know, they made some nice

388
00:17:35,998 --> 00:17:38,478
Speaker 4: moves during the off season. I still like the Phillies

389
00:17:39,118 --> 00:17:42,038
Speaker 4: to be the greatest challenge. It's going to be difficult

390
00:17:42,038 --> 00:17:43,678
Speaker 4: for the Brewers to repeat what they had done. They

391
00:17:43,678 --> 00:17:45,598
Speaker 4: got rid of Peralta and there's you know, it's just

392
00:17:45,718 --> 00:17:48,958
Speaker 4: other little floaters around there. The Padres I think have

393
00:17:49,078 --> 00:17:51,278
Speaker 4: really sunk. I don't think there are a challenge anymore.

394
00:17:51,278 --> 00:17:55,478
Speaker 4: I think the Cubs, if they really get out of

395
00:17:55,478 --> 00:17:58,318
Speaker 4: their pitching staff with they potentially can't get o their

396
00:17:58,358 --> 00:18:00,198
Speaker 4: pitching staff, they can be a threat.

397
00:18:00,398 --> 00:18:02,238
Speaker 2: Yes, But I still think for me.

398
00:18:02,198 --> 00:18:03,958
Speaker 4: If I had to pick one team for me, the

399
00:18:04,118 --> 00:18:07,398
Speaker 4: Phillies still are the main challenge to the Dodgers, repeating

400
00:18:07,478 --> 00:18:08,878
Speaker 4: in the National League, I'm.

401
00:18:08,718 --> 00:18:11,038
Speaker 1: With you, I go with the Phillies, and again I

402
00:18:11,078 --> 00:18:13,398
Speaker 1: go back to a team that knows itself battle tested.

403
00:18:14,558 --> 00:18:16,078
Speaker 1: To me, the whole key for them as far as

404
00:18:16,118 --> 00:18:19,118
Speaker 1: a postseason team is Zach Wheeler, you know, coming back

405
00:18:19,118 --> 00:18:22,638
Speaker 1: from the surgery he had with the thoracic outlet surgery.

406
00:18:22,878 --> 00:18:25,318
Speaker 1: I think, you know, you have to wait until these

407
00:18:25,318 --> 00:18:27,278
Speaker 1: guys get back on the mound. You just can't say, oh,

408
00:18:27,398 --> 00:18:29,598
Speaker 1: Zach Wheeler is coming back, Let's see what he's like.

409
00:18:29,998 --> 00:18:32,798
Speaker 1: But if he's anything close to what he was before,

410
00:18:33,518 --> 00:18:36,518
Speaker 1: that's a formidable rotation. With the breakout year Lizardo had

411
00:18:36,598 --> 00:18:39,398
Speaker 1: last year with the sweeper and Christopher Sanchez.

412
00:18:39,438 --> 00:18:41,958
Speaker 3: So I'm with you on the Phillies and the Cubs.

413
00:18:41,958 --> 00:18:44,478
Speaker 1: I'd have them above the Mets in terms of challenging

414
00:18:45,478 --> 00:18:49,078
Speaker 1: the La Dodgers. The other thing to look for every year, Joe,

415
00:18:49,118 --> 00:18:52,678
Speaker 1: and this happens. It's happened every year in the wildcard

416
00:18:52,678 --> 00:18:55,958
Speaker 1: era except once. There's going to be one team and

417
00:18:56,038 --> 00:18:58,878
Speaker 1: usually at least two that makes the postseason this year

418
00:18:58,878 --> 00:19:02,038
Speaker 1: that had a losing record last year. It just it

419
00:19:02,078 --> 00:19:04,318
Speaker 1: happens all the time. You had the Blue and the

420
00:19:04,318 --> 00:19:07,438
Speaker 1: Reds do it last year. So if you see people

421
00:19:07,478 --> 00:19:11,198
Speaker 1: making their preseason picks and they're just taking the chalk,

422
00:19:12,318 --> 00:19:15,798
Speaker 1: go somewhere else. There has to be you better find

423
00:19:15,918 --> 00:19:18,198
Speaker 1: room because this is just the nature of the game today,

424
00:19:18,238 --> 00:19:22,998
Speaker 1: teams with a losing record making the postseason. And I've

425
00:19:23,038 --> 00:19:26,438
Speaker 1: been tracking this for ages and it happens every year.

426
00:19:26,478 --> 00:19:29,358
Speaker 1: I always try to identify the teams. Last year identified

427
00:19:29,438 --> 00:19:32,358
Speaker 1: the Rangers and the Reds. The Reds came through for me.

428
00:19:32,558 --> 00:19:36,198
Speaker 1: I missed a whiffed on the on the Rangers. But

429
00:19:36,278 --> 00:19:38,038
Speaker 1: I try to find two teams every year they're gonna

430
00:19:38,038 --> 00:19:40,038
Speaker 1: be in a postseason that had a losing record this year.

431
00:19:40,118 --> 00:19:44,318
Speaker 1: So I want to get your take, Joe, which teams

432
00:19:44,358 --> 00:19:46,038
Speaker 1: that had a bad year last year.

433
00:19:46,318 --> 00:19:50,278
Speaker 3: Are going to be playing baseball in the fall this year.

434
00:19:50,318 --> 00:19:52,838
Speaker 1: I'll give you probably some choices year, just to refresh

435
00:19:52,838 --> 00:19:56,078
Speaker 1: your memory on who had a losing record, because a

436
00:19:56,118 --> 00:19:59,118
Speaker 1: team like the Giants was a flat five hundred, they

437
00:19:59,158 --> 00:20:03,198
Speaker 1: would not qualify for this. So you've got the Braves,

438
00:20:03,638 --> 00:20:10,998
Speaker 1: the Pirates, the Diamondbacks, the Marlins, the Orioles, the Athletics,

439
00:20:11,038 --> 00:20:13,558
Speaker 1: the Rays. I don't think you're gonna go to the

440
00:20:13,638 --> 00:20:15,798
Speaker 1: Rockies and the White Sox and some of these teams

441
00:20:15,798 --> 00:20:17,518
Speaker 1: that lost a ton of games last year.

442
00:20:17,598 --> 00:20:18,758
Speaker 3: But those are your picks.

443
00:20:18,838 --> 00:20:22,118
Speaker 1: The Braves, the Pirates, the Diamondbacks, the Marlins, the Orioles,

444
00:20:22,158 --> 00:20:25,838
Speaker 1: the A's, the Rays. Any two of that group float

445
00:20:25,838 --> 00:20:28,558
Speaker 1: your boat. In terms of a surprise playoff team this year, you.

446
00:20:28,558 --> 00:20:30,718
Speaker 4: Didn't say Kansas City, right, Did they had a winning

447
00:20:30,758 --> 00:20:31,398
Speaker 4: record last year?

448
00:20:31,438 --> 00:20:32,478
Speaker 3: Yeah, they had a winning record.

449
00:20:32,878 --> 00:20:33,278
Speaker 2: They didn't.

450
00:20:33,318 --> 00:20:36,638
Speaker 4: Okay, Well, if all start with the Braves. I like

451
00:20:36,718 --> 00:20:39,878
Speaker 4: the Braves. I just saw those Striders. Something wrong with

452
00:20:39,918 --> 00:20:41,718
Speaker 4: his arm. He's got an issue.

453
00:20:41,958 --> 00:20:44,918
Speaker 1: I wasn't oblique, but yeah, at least it's not the arm.

454
00:20:44,958 --> 00:20:46,078
Speaker 3: But as you know, those things a.

455
00:20:46,438 --> 00:20:51,038
Speaker 4: Month exactly so. But I still like the Braves. Love

456
00:20:51,118 --> 00:20:52,998
Speaker 4: to see Walt Weiss got an opportunity to do well.

457
00:20:53,038 --> 00:20:56,158
Speaker 4: I mean, he's a good fellow man, and I know

458
00:20:56,198 --> 00:20:58,958
Speaker 4: he's a steady eddy. He's a steady hand. So I

459
00:20:59,078 --> 00:21:04,678
Speaker 4: liked the Braves re establishing their pedigree on the American leagues. Man,

460
00:21:04,758 --> 00:21:06,718
Speaker 4: that's a that's a tough one because I had in

461
00:21:06,758 --> 00:21:09,398
Speaker 4: my head the Royals, but they didn't realize they had

462
00:21:09,438 --> 00:21:11,758
Speaker 4: a winning season. I don't see the Rays getting all

463
00:21:11,758 --> 00:21:12,478
Speaker 4: the way back yet.

464
00:21:12,478 --> 00:21:12,838
Speaker 2: I don't.

465
00:21:12,918 --> 00:21:15,038
Speaker 4: I just although they're gonna do, they're gonna be a

466
00:21:15,078 --> 00:21:17,598
Speaker 4: lot better playing in their building again than they were

467
00:21:17,638 --> 00:21:18,318
Speaker 4: playing outside.

468
00:21:18,358 --> 00:21:19,878
Speaker 2: I think there's something to be said for that.

469
00:21:20,198 --> 00:21:23,198
Speaker 4: How about was it mcclanahand the their left handed pitcher.

470
00:21:23,438 --> 00:21:27,078
Speaker 1: Where's he at Sean McClanahan. Yeah, yeah, long worry, but

471
00:21:27,398 --> 00:21:29,998
Speaker 1: he's not opening Dave roster. Hopefully he's gonna be back

472
00:21:30,518 --> 00:21:31,398
Speaker 1: somewhat soon.

473
00:21:31,598 --> 00:21:34,038
Speaker 4: I'm gonna go Baltimore than if I have, I'm I

474
00:21:34,078 --> 00:21:36,318
Speaker 4: have to make a pick. I mean, I just I

475
00:21:36,358 --> 00:21:39,158
Speaker 4: think Alonzo is gonna help a lot. I mean, they

476
00:21:39,198 --> 00:21:42,358
Speaker 4: have they felt so hard from grace. They just did.

477
00:21:42,358 --> 00:21:45,198
Speaker 4: Because I was all over them last last couple of

478
00:21:45,278 --> 00:21:47,518
Speaker 4: years when Hyder was there. I thought they did a

479
00:21:47,518 --> 00:21:50,518
Speaker 4: great job. Their pitching has been a little bit suspect. Absolutely,

480
00:21:50,598 --> 00:21:53,798
Speaker 4: But out of that whole group that you mentioned that,

481
00:21:53,998 --> 00:21:55,718
Speaker 4: I would think that that would be the one group

482
00:21:55,838 --> 00:21:59,358
Speaker 4: that has the best opportunity to get back to solveigncy

483
00:21:59,358 --> 00:22:01,998
Speaker 4: and possibly make the playoffs this year. They could be

484
00:22:02,038 --> 00:22:05,398
Speaker 4: the Blue Jays of the ALE this year. So I'll

485
00:22:05,438 --> 00:22:07,638
Speaker 4: go with Baltimore and Atlanta.

486
00:22:08,478 --> 00:22:11,758
Speaker 1: Yeah, oriole is interesting. I almost went with them. The

487
00:22:11,798 --> 00:22:15,598
Speaker 1: division works against them. They've got to be better than

488
00:22:15,638 --> 00:22:19,998
Speaker 1: one team among Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays, and

489
00:22:20,038 --> 00:22:22,278
Speaker 1: I don't see that happening. I do like everything that

490
00:22:22,278 --> 00:22:24,878
Speaker 1: they've done. Their pitching staff is better than advertised. I

491
00:22:24,878 --> 00:22:26,638
Speaker 1: know people say they didn't pick up an ace, but

492
00:22:26,678 --> 00:22:30,438
Speaker 1: it's a deeper rotation now and Alonso will make a difference.

493
00:22:32,238 --> 00:22:34,758
Speaker 1: It's a good It's an interesting choice. They'll definitely be

494
00:22:34,758 --> 00:22:39,118
Speaker 1: better in the mix. I also went with the Braves, Joe,

495
00:22:39,638 --> 00:22:41,718
Speaker 1: And when I look back on these teams that do

496
00:22:41,918 --> 00:22:45,918
Speaker 1: bounce back, a couple of things stand out. Number one

497
00:22:46,118 --> 00:22:48,158
Speaker 1: is they had a terrible record in one run games

498
00:22:48,198 --> 00:22:50,838
Speaker 1: the year before, because those things tend to be fungible.

499
00:22:50,878 --> 00:22:53,638
Speaker 1: Everybody thinks that, oh, it's like, you know, they know

500
00:22:53,718 --> 00:22:55,998
Speaker 1: how to win a game. It's a lot of luck

501
00:22:55,998 --> 00:22:58,398
Speaker 1: involved in one run games, and it tends to vary

502
00:22:58,398 --> 00:23:00,398
Speaker 1: from year to year. They had the third worst one

503
00:23:00,478 --> 00:23:03,518
Speaker 1: run record in baseball last year. The other thing that

504
00:23:03,558 --> 00:23:06,678
Speaker 1: stands out teams that step up tend to improve a

505
00:23:06,678 --> 00:23:11,518
Speaker 1: lot in run prevention, more so than run production. And

506
00:23:11,558 --> 00:23:13,758
Speaker 1: the Braves had a bad staff last year. You mentioned

507
00:23:13,798 --> 00:23:16,238
Speaker 1: Spencer Stryder. He's out for the first month of this season.

508
00:23:16,278 --> 00:23:18,958
Speaker 1: I get it they've had a horrible spring in terms

509
00:23:18,998 --> 00:23:21,358
Speaker 1: of injuries, but I do like the staff to be

510
00:23:21,358 --> 00:23:23,518
Speaker 1: better than it was last year. And the other factor

511
00:23:23,558 --> 00:23:26,078
Speaker 1: that turns up a lot, actually forty percent of the

512
00:23:26,078 --> 00:23:28,598
Speaker 1: time is a change of managers. And you mentioned Walt

513
00:23:28,598 --> 00:23:32,318
Speaker 1: Weiss taking over this team internally. Obviously he was a

514
00:23:32,358 --> 00:23:35,918
Speaker 1: coach on the staff for Brian Snicker. But this team's

515
00:23:35,958 --> 00:23:38,438
Speaker 1: loaded with high end talent. That's what I like about

516
00:23:38,478 --> 00:23:41,638
Speaker 1: the Braves, and I think they will bounce back. My

517
00:23:41,718 --> 00:23:44,558
Speaker 1: other team, though, is I can't believe I'm gonna say this,

518
00:23:44,598 --> 00:23:46,318
Speaker 1: but I will the Pittsburgh Pirates.

519
00:23:46,958 --> 00:23:48,998
Speaker 3: Listen, they've got a really good rotation.

520
00:23:49,118 --> 00:23:52,998
Speaker 1: We all know that the Pirates have not been as

521
00:23:53,078 --> 00:23:55,718
Speaker 1: high as twentieth, which obviously is not very high in

522
00:23:55,838 --> 00:23:59,638
Speaker 1: run scored in almost a decade, which is like negligent

523
00:23:59,678 --> 00:24:00,718
Speaker 1: for a major league team.

524
00:24:01,358 --> 00:24:02,078
Speaker 3: All they need to.

525
00:24:02,078 --> 00:24:05,638
Speaker 1: Do is be an average offensive team, and I think

526
00:24:05,638 --> 00:24:08,478
Speaker 1: they can make the postseason with their pitching staff, and

527
00:24:08,558 --> 00:24:10,638
Speaker 1: I think they have a chance. Joe, I think there's

528
00:24:10,678 --> 00:24:12,358
Speaker 1: two guys to me that stand out that can be

529
00:24:12,398 --> 00:24:16,078
Speaker 1: different makers. O'Neil Cruz, who is just it can be

530
00:24:16,118 --> 00:24:20,358
Speaker 1: a beast offensively and just really has been way too

531
00:24:20,358 --> 00:24:23,438
Speaker 1: inconsistent to be anywhere near that player. I think the

532
00:24:23,478 --> 00:24:26,638
Speaker 1: wb WBC experience for him is going to do wonders

533
00:24:26,678 --> 00:24:30,358
Speaker 1: being around Albert Cruz, Albert Pouhols and Nelson Cruz and

534
00:24:30,438 --> 00:24:32,758
Speaker 1: Connor Griffin. I mean, I saw this kid play in

535
00:24:32,758 --> 00:24:34,558
Speaker 1: spring training and I'm telling you this is going to

536
00:24:34,598 --> 00:24:36,758
Speaker 1: be a plug and play impact player when he arrives,

537
00:24:36,798 --> 00:24:38,558
Speaker 1: which is going to be very quickly. I think he's

538
00:24:38,558 --> 00:24:41,878
Speaker 1: got that kind of a bet to be. You know,

539
00:24:42,038 --> 00:24:44,158
Speaker 1: one of these guys, like at Chipper Jones, hits the

540
00:24:44,158 --> 00:24:46,558
Speaker 1: ground running in the major league level. So I had

541
00:24:46,558 --> 00:24:48,718
Speaker 1: the Pirates as my other team, tempted to go with

542
00:24:48,758 --> 00:24:52,438
Speaker 1: the Arizona Diamondbacks. I think they're a really good dynamic

543
00:24:52,478 --> 00:24:55,638
Speaker 1: offensive team who's bullpen was terrible last year. I think

544
00:24:55,678 --> 00:24:58,038
Speaker 1: that would turnaround, so it's a good call. I like

545
00:24:58,118 --> 00:25:00,278
Speaker 1: the Orioles. I almost went there, but I'm gonna go

546
00:25:00,318 --> 00:25:03,758
Speaker 1: Braves and Pirates. What do you think of the Pirates, Joe.

547
00:25:04,038 --> 00:25:04,838
Speaker 2: I listen.

548
00:25:04,918 --> 00:25:08,038
Speaker 4: I'm I'm a closet Pirate fan from when I was

549
00:25:08,078 --> 00:25:10,758
Speaker 4: a kid. I U still love their uniforms, so it's

550
00:25:10,758 --> 00:25:12,878
Speaker 4: always a Pirate guy. I love their ballpark, I love

551
00:25:12,918 --> 00:25:15,998
Speaker 4: the city there, and yes, I mean pitching staff. I

552
00:25:16,598 --> 00:25:20,238
Speaker 4: watch schemes, you know, during a WBC. This guy just

553
00:25:20,278 --> 00:25:23,238
Speaker 4: seems to do everything right beyond being a good picture

554
00:25:23,398 --> 00:25:26,158
Speaker 4: or out standing on picture. If there's anybody who want

555
00:25:26,198 --> 00:25:29,798
Speaker 4: to lead your staff right now as a young future

556
00:25:30,038 --> 00:25:32,398
Speaker 4: I mean potential Hall of famer has as he stays well.

557
00:25:32,438 --> 00:25:35,038
Speaker 4: I was always in the beginning concerned about his armstroke

558
00:25:35,118 --> 00:25:36,958
Speaker 4: and how the arm work, but all it is is

559
00:25:37,878 --> 00:25:39,998
Speaker 4: he's he's he takes such great care of himself and

560
00:25:40,038 --> 00:25:41,918
Speaker 4: he's been doing it that way for so long. Obviously

561
00:25:41,918 --> 00:25:43,758
Speaker 4: it works for him, and I'm it's a part of

562
00:25:43,798 --> 00:25:47,918
Speaker 4: his success because it's got to be deceptive and uncomfortable

563
00:25:47,958 --> 00:25:50,838
Speaker 4: from hitters, the way he unwinds the hitters the ball

564
00:25:50,838 --> 00:25:53,798
Speaker 4: comes to the plate. His ability to he's almost like

565
00:25:53,878 --> 00:25:56,878
Speaker 4: he's almost like a show hey or you darbish. It

566
00:25:56,878 --> 00:25:59,158
Speaker 4: seems to be like he's he's always he's curious and

567
00:25:59,198 --> 00:26:02,158
Speaker 4: he's able to like almost create on the fly. He

568
00:26:02,158 --> 00:26:05,758
Speaker 4: always wants to get better, trying different pitches, do different things.

569
00:26:06,038 --> 00:26:07,798
Speaker 4: And again I'm a little bit concerned about that, but

570
00:26:07,878 --> 00:26:09,678
Speaker 4: apparently he's able to do those things.

571
00:26:09,958 --> 00:26:11,878
Speaker 2: But I just like his look. I like his look

572
00:26:11,918 --> 00:26:12,198
Speaker 2: a lot.

573
00:26:12,278 --> 00:26:14,918
Speaker 4: And there's a lot of other really good arms on

574
00:26:14,958 --> 00:26:18,398
Speaker 4: that staff. If they could ride those arms and they

575
00:26:18,438 --> 00:26:20,358
Speaker 4: got to catch the ball, they got to catch the

576
00:26:20,398 --> 00:26:23,678
Speaker 4: way you just brought up run prevention. Yes, they got

577
00:26:23,678 --> 00:26:25,638
Speaker 4: to score some points, but dang, I mean with those

578
00:26:25,718 --> 00:26:28,078
Speaker 4: kind of pitchers, man, I want to catch the baseball.

579
00:26:28,638 --> 00:26:31,158
Speaker 4: I want to give the other team twenty seven outs

580
00:26:31,238 --> 00:26:35,958
Speaker 4: only as often as possible, and really, from an offensive perspective,

581
00:26:36,558 --> 00:26:37,918
Speaker 4: just don't try to bang.

582
00:26:37,638 --> 00:26:39,118
Speaker 2: The ball over the wall all the time.

583
00:26:39,278 --> 00:26:41,758
Speaker 4: Really, this is a situation with Kelly there and being

584
00:26:41,798 --> 00:26:44,438
Speaker 4: at Leland protege. I'd like to think that they're going

585
00:26:44,478 --> 00:26:47,878
Speaker 4: to be more concerned about moving the ball in counts

586
00:26:47,878 --> 00:26:50,758
Speaker 4: and accepting the blueberry right field to drive in a run,

587
00:26:50,798 --> 00:26:54,198
Speaker 4: I mean, just play of a more traditional based offense. Sure,

588
00:26:54,438 --> 00:26:56,718
Speaker 4: go for the bomb, go for less than two strikes,

589
00:26:56,758 --> 00:26:59,798
Speaker 4: but understand, when you get to two against quality pitching,

590
00:26:59,838 --> 00:27:01,918
Speaker 4: it's hard to square this stuff up. I think if

591
00:27:01,918 --> 00:27:05,838
Speaker 4: they could really bear down on their defense and a

592
00:27:05,838 --> 00:27:09,998
Speaker 4: little bit more situational hit and ride that pitching staff,

593
00:27:10,358 --> 00:27:12,038
Speaker 4: that's going to be the ticket for them to really

594
00:27:12,038 --> 00:27:13,038
Speaker 4: be successful this year.

595
00:27:13,478 --> 00:27:15,558
Speaker 1: A good call on Don Kelly, by the way, really

596
00:27:15,598 --> 00:27:17,918
Speaker 1: impressed with the way he ran things last year taking

597
00:27:17,958 --> 00:27:22,878
Speaker 1: over in May, so he has, as you'd like to

598
00:27:22,878 --> 00:27:24,678
Speaker 1: put it, Joe, he's got his own baby now from

599
00:27:24,678 --> 00:27:27,718
Speaker 1: the start of the season, and I think he is

600
00:27:27,758 --> 00:27:28,518
Speaker 1: a difference maker.

601
00:27:28,558 --> 00:27:29,638
Speaker 3: It will only get better.

602
00:27:29,678 --> 00:27:32,038
Speaker 1: You mentioned the Leland comparison, and I think that's an

603
00:27:32,038 --> 00:27:32,638
Speaker 1: apt one.

604
00:27:33,878 --> 00:27:38,278
Speaker 3: Let's talk about predictions for MVPs now.

605
00:27:38,918 --> 00:27:40,838
Speaker 1: I don't know how you go anywhere else other than

606
00:27:40,878 --> 00:27:44,798
Speaker 1: Aaron just show right. I mean, they've won seven of

607
00:27:44,838 --> 00:27:49,238
Speaker 1: the last ten MVPs, and if they're healthy, they're going

608
00:27:49,278 --> 00:27:51,278
Speaker 1: to win the MVPs again.

609
00:27:52,398 --> 00:27:53,878
Speaker 3: So you really have to.

610
00:27:53,798 --> 00:27:56,838
Speaker 1: Go off the board to find somebody Joe, to take

611
00:27:56,878 --> 00:27:58,838
Speaker 1: the MVPs away from these two guys.

612
00:27:59,958 --> 00:28:01,078
Speaker 3: I don't see it happening.

613
00:28:01,198 --> 00:28:04,798
Speaker 1: You know, show he's going to make say a twenty

614
00:28:04,838 --> 00:28:07,518
Speaker 1: to twenty two starts. He's not going to make thirty starts.

615
00:28:07,518 --> 00:28:09,438
Speaker 1: He's not going to throw two hundred innings. He's gonna

616
00:28:09,438 --> 00:28:11,918
Speaker 1: throw about one hundred and fifty innings over over twenty

617
00:28:12,078 --> 00:28:14,198
Speaker 1: twenty one starts. And when you do that and hit

618
00:28:14,238 --> 00:28:17,078
Speaker 1: forty home runs, you're a lock to win the MVP.

619
00:28:17,558 --> 00:28:21,158
Speaker 1: There's literally no competition for Shoe a Otani and Judge

620
00:28:21,158 --> 00:28:24,038
Speaker 1: is the guy who's hitting three thirty one with fifty bombs.

621
00:28:24,238 --> 00:28:25,678
Speaker 3: I mean, how is anybody going to top that?

622
00:28:26,278 --> 00:28:29,558
Speaker 1: But I'll I'll just let's humor of people, Joe and

623
00:28:29,838 --> 00:28:33,158
Speaker 1: come up with any other somebody else who may break

624
00:28:33,198 --> 00:28:35,238
Speaker 1: through at least challenge these two guys who both won

625
00:28:35,358 --> 00:28:38,758
Speaker 1: unanimously last year. You got anybody in either league who

626
00:28:38,878 --> 00:28:40,078
Speaker 1: challenged these two guys?

627
00:28:40,718 --> 00:28:42,398
Speaker 2: Well, americally, I'll start there.

628
00:28:42,398 --> 00:28:45,798
Speaker 4: I got you know, I think Vladimir, you know, they

629
00:28:45,878 --> 00:28:49,238
Speaker 4: really tasted it last year and that and that matters.

630
00:28:49,358 --> 00:28:54,758
Speaker 4: I mean, I think internally the Blue Jays, these solid

631
00:28:54,798 --> 00:28:57,198
Speaker 4: of these players are gonna be elevated mentally. They like

632
00:28:57,278 --> 00:28:59,758
Speaker 4: what happened last year. They became so close. Actually, they

633
00:28:59,758 --> 00:29:02,398
Speaker 4: should have won it but didn't. So I think there's

634
00:29:02,398 --> 00:29:05,238
Speaker 4: a high level of motivation there. And I like what

635
00:29:05,318 --> 00:29:07,238
Speaker 4: I saw out of Ladd Junior at the end of

636
00:29:07,318 --> 00:29:10,918
Speaker 4: last year, and I think that, you know, just to

637
00:29:10,998 --> 00:29:15,758
Speaker 4: really with being directed mentally on his own this year

638
00:29:15,798 --> 00:29:18,078
Speaker 4: from the beginning, having tasted a bit of it, I

639
00:29:18,078 --> 00:29:20,838
Speaker 4: think he could. He's very dangerous. I think with Junior

640
00:29:20,958 --> 00:29:23,678
Speaker 4: is also very dangerous. I know he came close a

641
00:29:23,678 --> 00:29:25,918
Speaker 4: while back. But those two guys, to me out of

642
00:29:25,958 --> 00:29:29,038
Speaker 4: the America League, would think are the greatest challenges in

643
00:29:29,118 --> 00:29:29,958
Speaker 4: the National League.

644
00:29:31,038 --> 00:29:33,158
Speaker 2: I do like Schwarbert. I like Schwrober going back to

645
00:29:33,198 --> 00:29:33,598
Speaker 2: the Phillies.

646
00:29:33,638 --> 00:29:36,038
Speaker 4: I know he's a DH, but god, he could put

647
00:29:36,078 --> 00:29:39,278
Speaker 4: up some gaudy numbers this year in Acunya. Needs to,

648
00:29:40,558 --> 00:29:42,398
Speaker 4: you know, put everything aside and just go out there

649
00:29:42,438 --> 00:29:43,518
Speaker 4: and be a great baseball player.

650
00:29:43,558 --> 00:29:45,958
Speaker 2: That he is a kid. You just watch him swing

651
00:29:45,998 --> 00:29:46,838
Speaker 2: the bat. It's different.

652
00:29:47,038 --> 00:29:49,878
Speaker 4: So among the I'll take two from each division are

653
00:29:49,918 --> 00:29:53,078
Speaker 4: two leagues. I don't think the catcher a Ralely. I

654
00:29:53,118 --> 00:29:54,918
Speaker 4: don't think he could replicate what he did last year

655
00:29:54,918 --> 00:29:58,118
Speaker 4: and settle That's going to be hard. So I'm gonna

656
00:29:58,118 --> 00:30:01,278
Speaker 4: go with Schwarbur and Acunya in the National League threatening show,

657
00:30:01,798 --> 00:30:03,838
Speaker 4: and I got Flat Junior and Witch Junior, the two

658
00:30:04,478 --> 00:30:06,798
Speaker 4: the American League side threatening judge.

659
00:30:07,078 --> 00:30:09,918
Speaker 3: Yeah, all good calls. I'm with you. I thought about

660
00:30:09,958 --> 00:30:10,958
Speaker 3: Ronald Cunya Junior.

661
00:30:11,838 --> 00:30:14,638
Speaker 1: I just think looking at him watching him play, He's

662
00:30:14,758 --> 00:30:18,038
Speaker 1: not quite as dynamic as he was pre knee injuries.

663
00:30:19,318 --> 00:30:20,918
Speaker 1: So I don't know how much he's going to run,

664
00:30:20,958 --> 00:30:25,118
Speaker 1: but we'll see that. That's a good call in the

665
00:30:25,238 --> 00:30:28,678
Speaker 1: National League, I guess, I don't know. Schwarber is a

666
00:30:28,678 --> 00:30:32,278
Speaker 1: tough one as a DH. I love Schwarz as D.

667
00:30:32,518 --> 00:30:35,918
Speaker 1: It's tough to be the the MVP. I'll start out

668
00:30:35,958 --> 00:30:37,838
Speaker 1: in the American League. I got a surprise for you,

669
00:30:37,958 --> 00:30:41,238
Speaker 1: Roman Anthony. I was really impressed with his bats throughout

670
00:30:41,238 --> 00:30:43,838
Speaker 1: the WBC. I mean, this guy does not chase at all.

671
00:30:43,878 --> 00:30:45,798
Speaker 1: He reminds me of Juan Soto. When you see a

672
00:30:45,798 --> 00:30:48,918
Speaker 1: guy at twenty one who understands the strike zone the

673
00:30:48,958 --> 00:30:52,398
Speaker 1: way that he does. Wow, I mean he's really impressive.

674
00:30:52,438 --> 00:30:54,638
Speaker 1: Bobby Witt Junior a really good call. I mean, that guy,

675
00:30:55,238 --> 00:30:58,558
Speaker 1: he's just he plays baseball a different way than everybody else.

676
00:30:58,678 --> 00:31:01,518
Speaker 1: The way he runs, the explosiveness, I said, the way

677
00:31:01,558 --> 00:31:04,598
Speaker 1: he plays defense, Joe is like you know in t ball,

678
00:31:04,638 --> 00:31:07,038
Speaker 1: when kids first playing t ball and the ball is

679
00:31:07,118 --> 00:31:10,398
Speaker 1: hit and they run after it like a puppy chasing

680
00:31:10,398 --> 00:31:13,958
Speaker 1: a tennis ball. That's Bobby Witt playing shortstop. I mean,

681
00:31:13,998 --> 00:31:18,958
Speaker 1: he goes after everything. So I love that call. So

682
00:31:19,118 --> 00:31:21,038
Speaker 1: I guess I'll go with Ocunya as well. In the

683
00:31:21,118 --> 00:31:24,038
Speaker 1: National League. I think the Braves, as we said, are

684
00:31:24,078 --> 00:31:25,798
Speaker 1: going to bounce back, and usually you have to be

685
00:31:25,798 --> 00:31:27,358
Speaker 1: playing on a good team to win the MVP.

686
00:31:28,038 --> 00:31:31,198
Speaker 3: But other than that, yeah, just can't go against Judge

687
00:31:31,238 --> 00:31:32,598
Speaker 3: and Otani. How about this job.

688
00:31:32,638 --> 00:31:35,318
Speaker 1: By the way, I'm looking at Otani's pitching numbers in

689
00:31:35,358 --> 00:31:38,078
Speaker 1: spring training, and again it's spring training. You can't put

690
00:31:38,118 --> 00:31:40,158
Speaker 1: too much into it. Guys are working on things or

691
00:31:40,198 --> 00:31:44,358
Speaker 1: trying different things. But I noticed Otani has really bumped

692
00:31:44,398 --> 00:31:46,958
Speaker 1: the use of his splitter. I mean last year, during

693
00:31:46,998 --> 00:31:49,278
Speaker 1: the regular season, he threw the split only four percent

694
00:31:49,278 --> 00:31:51,118
Speaker 1: of the time. Remember he was coming back from a

695
00:31:51,158 --> 00:31:54,798
Speaker 1: second elbow procedure, and he threw it about ninety miles

696
00:31:54,838 --> 00:31:57,598
Speaker 1: an hour, which is a hard split. Postseason, he bumped

697
00:31:57,638 --> 00:32:00,118
Speaker 1: it up, almost doubled the usage, still only eight percent

698
00:32:00,398 --> 00:32:03,718
Speaker 1: and he's throwing it eighty eight eighty nine. This year

699
00:32:03,958 --> 00:32:07,238
Speaker 1: spring training he threw his split twenty three percent of

700
00:32:07,278 --> 00:32:10,878
Speaker 1: the time and it's down to eighty six and a half.

701
00:32:10,998 --> 00:32:14,238
Speaker 1: So he's deadening that split more and he's throwing it more.

702
00:32:14,878 --> 00:32:17,198
Speaker 1: You know what's show? Hey, he's always working on something

703
00:32:17,278 --> 00:32:20,198
Speaker 1: like skiens, always trying to get better. I and again,

704
00:32:20,278 --> 00:32:22,278
Speaker 1: I'm not gonna put some stock into this until I

705
00:32:22,358 --> 00:32:24,358
Speaker 1: see him on the game mound in a real major

706
00:32:24,438 --> 00:32:26,518
Speaker 1: league game, But I thought that was interesting.

707
00:32:26,558 --> 00:32:27,318
Speaker 3: Clearly he was.

708
00:32:27,318 --> 00:32:30,078
Speaker 1: Working on the split in spring training and throwing it,

709
00:32:30,838 --> 00:32:33,278
Speaker 1: you know, at a much more of an off speed

710
00:32:33,318 --> 00:32:36,798
Speaker 1: pitch than it had been before. By the way, how

711
00:32:36,798 --> 00:32:37,678
Speaker 1: good is that split?

712
00:32:37,798 --> 00:32:39,918
Speaker 3: Show? He's thrown more than a thousand splits in.

713
00:32:39,878 --> 00:32:43,598
Speaker 1: His major league career and giving up thirty four hits

714
00:32:43,918 --> 00:32:48,078
Speaker 1: on a thousand plus splitters a one pH one batting average.

715
00:32:48,558 --> 00:32:51,958
Speaker 1: So if it's better this year, that's bad news for

716
00:32:52,158 --> 00:32:53,038
Speaker 1: major league hitters.

717
00:32:53,958 --> 00:32:57,158
Speaker 4: It sounds like an analytical suggestion. It's like an airplane.

718
00:32:57,158 --> 00:33:00,598
Speaker 4: When you get into some turbulence, you they normally back

719
00:33:00,638 --> 00:33:03,798
Speaker 4: off a little bit. They take to take the sp

720
00:33:04,038 --> 00:33:08,238
Speaker 4: us off the airplane. Maybe they're backing off the turbulence

721
00:33:08,278 --> 00:33:12,118
Speaker 4: of another arm operation. By having him slow it down

722
00:33:12,158 --> 00:33:13,838
Speaker 4: just a little bit. I would almost bet this is

723
00:33:13,838 --> 00:33:18,438
Speaker 4: an analytical thing, and to use it as often as

724
00:33:18,478 --> 00:33:21,198
Speaker 4: you did in camp, he probably felt good after he

725
00:33:21,278 --> 00:33:24,998
Speaker 4: threw it, less stress, less concern in a sense. So

726
00:33:25,078 --> 00:33:26,398
Speaker 4: go ahead and throw it a little bit more. See

727
00:33:26,398 --> 00:33:27,958
Speaker 4: how you feel about it. Let's work through it, and

728
00:33:27,958 --> 00:33:29,678
Speaker 4: then we'll make our decision at the end of camp.

729
00:33:30,118 --> 00:33:33,238
Speaker 4: So that's what it sounds like to me. It sounds

730
00:33:33,238 --> 00:33:35,198
Speaker 4: like it could be equally effective. It probably has a

731
00:33:35,238 --> 00:33:38,398
Speaker 4: little bit more depth to it with the less speed possibly,

732
00:33:38,998 --> 00:33:41,158
Speaker 4: but it's still going to look I mean, with everything

733
00:33:41,198 --> 00:33:42,558
Speaker 4: else that he does, it's still going to be very

734
00:33:42,558 --> 00:33:46,358
Speaker 4: deceptive to the hitter. So again that really reeks of

735
00:33:46,398 --> 00:33:50,598
Speaker 4: analytical I don't want to say interference analytical aid right here,

736
00:33:51,158 --> 00:33:53,638
Speaker 4: and I would be curious to find out if that's

737
00:33:53,678 --> 00:33:55,478
Speaker 4: exactly it. Just take a little bit of stress off

738
00:33:55,478 --> 00:33:58,398
Speaker 4: the arm, slow it down, just a little bit, little turbulence,

739
00:33:58,438 --> 00:34:01,638
Speaker 4: bumpy air ahead, and let's just see if we do

740
00:34:01,638 --> 00:34:05,718
Speaker 4: do that, if we can somehow avert the next potential

741
00:34:06,758 --> 00:34:10,638
Speaker 4: arm surgery, because that's that's got to be with drives

742
00:34:10,678 --> 00:34:13,278
Speaker 4: them regarding the work they do on show is how

743
00:34:13,318 --> 00:34:15,918
Speaker 4: do we prevent this from happening again. They're gonna have

744
00:34:15,958 --> 00:34:20,558
Speaker 4: some solid opinions based on that information, whatever slow motion

745
00:34:20,718 --> 00:34:23,118
Speaker 4: stuff that they're going to do, and I would bet

746
00:34:23,198 --> 00:34:24,638
Speaker 4: that has something to do with it.

747
00:34:24,638 --> 00:34:26,318
Speaker 3: It's really fascinating to watch.

748
00:34:26,478 --> 00:34:28,918
Speaker 1: You know what is driving pitching these days, And for

749
00:34:29,038 --> 00:34:30,878
Speaker 1: years and years and years, it was velocity and.

750
00:34:30,838 --> 00:34:31,518
Speaker 3: That's still there.

751
00:34:32,358 --> 00:34:35,238
Speaker 1: But now you see getting these pitchers in their quote

752
00:34:35,278 --> 00:34:41,358
Speaker 1: unquote labs and shaping the baseball. Everybody now needs a

753
00:34:41,478 --> 00:34:44,718
Speaker 1: menu of pitches to both right handed and left handed hitters,

754
00:34:44,758 --> 00:34:47,678
Speaker 1: and everybody needs the ball to go both ways on

755
00:34:47,758 --> 00:34:50,638
Speaker 1: both sides of the plate. That's why you see pitchers

756
00:34:51,878 --> 00:34:56,038
Speaker 1: really expanding their repertoire. You know, the old fastball, card

757
00:34:56,038 --> 00:34:59,238
Speaker 1: ball change up. You just basically don't see that anymore,

758
00:34:59,318 --> 00:35:01,518
Speaker 1: even among the great pitchers. I'll give you an example

759
00:35:01,598 --> 00:35:04,878
Speaker 1: what I saw in spring training Joe Ryan Weathers, young

760
00:35:04,918 --> 00:35:08,918
Speaker 1: pitcher the Yankees picked up from the Marlins. They essentially

761
00:35:08,958 --> 00:35:11,638
Speaker 1: put him through their pitching lab car wash, the way

762
00:35:11,678 --> 00:35:14,238
Speaker 1: they did Max Freed last year. Remember how Max Freed

763
00:35:14,318 --> 00:35:17,878
Speaker 1: used to be fastball, curveball guy up and down, and

764
00:35:17,918 --> 00:35:20,598
Speaker 1: he became in and out, up and down and using

765
00:35:20,798 --> 00:35:24,158
Speaker 1: everything kitchen sink kind of pitching. That's where baseball is going,

766
00:35:25,518 --> 00:35:29,438
Speaker 1: you know, sort of deemphasized the fastball at the expense

767
00:35:29,758 --> 00:35:33,118
Speaker 1: or the benefit, if you will, of shaping pitches with spin.

768
00:35:33,638 --> 00:35:37,758
Speaker 1: So Ryan Weathers this last year through twenty two percent

769
00:35:38,038 --> 00:35:42,438
Speaker 1: sinkers and sweepers, that's essentially moving the ball left and right.

770
00:35:43,078 --> 00:35:46,638
Speaker 1: This year in spring training he's throwing forty seven percent

771
00:35:47,238 --> 00:35:49,718
Speaker 1: sinkers and sweepers. And the very similar thing happening with

772
00:35:49,758 --> 00:35:53,358
Speaker 1: Max Freed last year, you know, not quite as pronounced,

773
00:35:53,798 --> 00:35:57,038
Speaker 1: but he increased the sinkers and sweepers, so making the

774
00:35:57,078 --> 00:36:01,198
Speaker 1: ball go both ways in and away from hitters on

775
00:36:01,238 --> 00:36:03,638
Speaker 1: both sides of the plate. Keep your eye on Ryan

776
00:36:03,678 --> 00:36:05,798
Speaker 1: weather And by the way, he added a tick to

777
00:36:05,878 --> 00:36:08,558
Speaker 1: his fastball too. His velocity is up a tick, but

778
00:36:08,638 --> 00:36:12,438
Speaker 1: he's throwing the fastball less. So, uh, you know, you

779
00:36:12,438 --> 00:36:14,558
Speaker 1: saw the year that Max Freed had last year. If

780
00:36:14,598 --> 00:36:16,758
Speaker 1: you've got a guy who's got the aptitude to be

781
00:36:16,798 --> 00:36:19,438
Speaker 1: able to handle the expanded repertoire.

782
00:36:19,518 --> 00:36:21,998
Speaker 3: You got yourself a breakout player. It might be Ryan Weathers.

783
00:36:22,158 --> 00:36:23,958
Speaker 2: So then why can't they pitch the third term through

784
00:36:23,998 --> 00:36:24,638
Speaker 2: the batting order.

785
00:36:26,198 --> 00:36:28,398
Speaker 1: You know you're giving them more we right, you got

786
00:36:28,438 --> 00:36:32,238
Speaker 1: more weapons, you're not more platoon neutral. And yet third

787
00:36:32,238 --> 00:36:33,358
Speaker 1: time around, oh get him out.

788
00:36:33,358 --> 00:36:35,158
Speaker 4: That's exactly right to platoon nuts. And that's what I

789
00:36:35,238 --> 00:36:37,598
Speaker 4: always Oh, my god, when you have that picture. It's

790
00:36:37,598 --> 00:36:40,478
Speaker 4: so nice when you go into a game and your

791
00:36:40,718 --> 00:36:43,238
Speaker 4: starting pitcher is like really dominant on one side or

792
00:36:43,238 --> 00:36:46,518
Speaker 4: the other over the other. It's it's always concerning because

793
00:36:46,518 --> 00:36:47,838
Speaker 4: you're going to see them load up on the on

794
00:36:47,878 --> 00:36:50,758
Speaker 4: the weak side versus this picture. My relief pictures. I

795
00:36:50,958 --> 00:36:54,158
Speaker 4: love neutral relief pictures, my god. And that's when you

796
00:36:54,238 --> 00:36:56,918
Speaker 4: actually didn't have the three battery minimum and you were

797
00:36:56,958 --> 00:36:58,198
Speaker 4: able to match things up.

798
00:36:58,678 --> 00:36:58,798
Speaker 2: Uh.

799
00:36:58,878 --> 00:37:01,918
Speaker 4: In today's world of the three battered minimum, I would

800
00:37:01,998 --> 00:37:05,078
Speaker 4: think that neutral pictures are at a premium right now.

801
00:37:05,118 --> 00:37:08,918
Speaker 4: That's exactly what you want to have. I remember, you know,

802
00:37:08,918 --> 00:37:11,478
Speaker 4: I used to bring in Joel Peralta to pitch two lefties.

803
00:37:11,798 --> 00:37:14,838
Speaker 4: Finally Boumel figured it out and he let Johnny go

804
00:37:14,878 --> 00:37:18,558
Speaker 4: and stay in the game against Peralta and at the

805
00:37:18,598 --> 00:37:20,638
Speaker 4: trump and boom the ball went out to the left center.

806
00:37:20,638 --> 00:37:22,678
Speaker 4: I was upset when he when he didn't bite and

807
00:37:22,678 --> 00:37:24,358
Speaker 4: bring him to pinch it or I knew were in trouble.

808
00:37:24,918 --> 00:37:27,638
Speaker 4: So that's that's it you want, because he was Actually

809
00:37:27,678 --> 00:37:28,758
Speaker 4: he was a reverse split guy.

810
00:37:28,998 --> 00:37:31,798
Speaker 2: You like the neutral guys. I love neutral guys.

811
00:37:32,078 --> 00:37:34,718
Speaker 4: I can understand that being part of what they're trying

812
00:37:34,758 --> 00:37:37,718
Speaker 4: to develop. I would if I had a minor league

813
00:37:37,798 --> 00:37:41,918
Speaker 4: organization and my pictures and I saw but not just

814
00:37:42,118 --> 00:37:44,838
Speaker 4: relief pictures, but especially relief pictures, I would try to

815
00:37:44,878 --> 00:37:47,118
Speaker 4: make them neutral. I would try to make them so

816
00:37:47,198 --> 00:37:50,598
Speaker 4: that I, especially in the world of the three batter minimum,

817
00:37:50,678 --> 00:37:53,878
Speaker 4: I could I could pitch through some difficult situations because

818
00:37:53,878 --> 00:37:57,038
Speaker 4: of that. That's to me where a lab would be important.

819
00:37:57,358 --> 00:38:00,558
Speaker 4: That's where these stats and numbers are important. And it's

820
00:38:00,598 --> 00:38:03,038
Speaker 4: an easy sell when you're talking to a young picture

821
00:38:03,478 --> 00:38:05,838
Speaker 4: that maybe he has a deficiency on one side or

822
00:38:05,838 --> 00:38:08,438
Speaker 4: the other. Listen, you know, we like what you do,

823
00:38:08,438 --> 00:38:10,758
Speaker 4: you like how you are. We to get a great makeup. However,

824
00:38:10,838 --> 00:38:12,838
Speaker 4: you have a deficiency against one side or the other.

825
00:38:13,318 --> 00:38:16,238
Speaker 4: We need to get you better in this particular area.

826
00:38:16,478 --> 00:38:18,678
Speaker 4: And that's where this is really valuable stuff.

827
00:38:19,118 --> 00:38:22,718
Speaker 1: Yeah, the Yankees, they're building a really good pitching staff. Man.

828
00:38:22,798 --> 00:38:25,518
Speaker 1: I mean, Louis Heal can't even make the opening day rotation.

829
00:38:25,918 --> 00:38:28,438
Speaker 1: Keep your eye on Will Warren, who's got.

830
00:38:28,758 --> 00:38:29,918
Speaker 3: An elite fastball.

831
00:38:30,078 --> 00:38:32,038
Speaker 1: It just needs a little better command and to mentioned

832
00:38:32,038 --> 00:38:33,718
Speaker 1: whether it could be a breakout candidate.

833
00:38:34,358 --> 00:38:36,518
Speaker 3: We're going to take a quick break when we get back, Joe.

834
00:38:37,318 --> 00:38:39,678
Speaker 3: I got a couple of Babe Ruth stories to tell

835
00:38:39,718 --> 00:38:42,318
Speaker 3: you. You can never have enough Babe Ruth stories. And somehow

836
00:38:42,318 --> 00:38:43,478
Speaker 3: they're all true as well.

837
00:38:43,878 --> 00:38:47,078
Speaker 1: You'll like these coming up next to the Book of Joe.

838
00:38:58,878 --> 00:38:59,558
Speaker 2: Welcome back to.

839
00:38:59,518 --> 00:39:00,798
Speaker 3: The Book of Joe. Babe Ruth.

840
00:39:00,838 --> 00:39:03,638
Speaker 1: I mean, sometimes I think it's like Paul Bunyan, but

841
00:39:04,118 --> 00:39:06,558
Speaker 1: it's an American legend, right, they made him up, but

842
00:39:06,718 --> 00:39:08,558
Speaker 1: he actually did exist. And I was looking up on

843
00:39:08,598 --> 00:39:12,838
Speaker 1: this date. Back in nineteen thirty three, Baby Ruth took

844
00:39:12,838 --> 00:39:16,958
Speaker 1: a pay cut from seventy five thousand dollars to fifty

845
00:39:16,998 --> 00:39:21,598
Speaker 1: two thousand dollars. That's a huge cut, right, Obviously it's

846
00:39:21,678 --> 00:39:25,718
Speaker 1: nineteen thirty three. It's the depression. How about these numbers, Joe.

847
00:39:25,798 --> 00:39:28,318
Speaker 1: He's coming off a season in which he hit three

848
00:39:28,558 --> 00:39:32,078
Speaker 1: forty one with forty one homers and one hundred and

849
00:39:32,078 --> 00:39:36,758
Speaker 1: thirty seven RBIs. He took a pay cut from seventy

850
00:39:36,758 --> 00:39:42,198
Speaker 1: five grand down to fifty two grand. Oh my goodness, wow,

851
00:39:43,438 --> 00:39:45,078
Speaker 1: I mean a different day and age.

852
00:39:45,158 --> 00:39:47,718
Speaker 4: So that was that was just because of the numbers

853
00:39:47,718 --> 00:39:49,678
Speaker 4: from the previous year decline. Is that what that's is

854
00:39:49,718 --> 00:39:50,078
Speaker 4: all about.

855
00:39:50,438 --> 00:39:54,558
Speaker 1: Well, his numbers didn't really decline, but the economy was

856
00:39:54,598 --> 00:39:57,558
Speaker 1: in the tank. Okay, great depression and he was a

857
00:39:57,558 --> 00:40:00,158
Speaker 1: good America start to go down and hey, baby, you

858
00:40:00,198 --> 00:40:01,918
Speaker 1: gotta do is a solid and take a hit here.

859
00:40:02,758 --> 00:40:05,958
Speaker 4: Yeah, And actually they I recently read he actually played

860
00:40:05,958 --> 00:40:08,798
Speaker 4: at Cranberry Ballpark in Hazelton, PA at one point too.

861
00:40:08,878 --> 00:40:09,598
Speaker 2: During that time.

862
00:40:09,878 --> 00:40:11,638
Speaker 4: He guess he went out and barnstormed a little bit,

863
00:40:11,638 --> 00:40:14,718
Speaker 4: and I guess a local coal miner struck him out twice.

864
00:40:14,758 --> 00:40:16,118
Speaker 2: I just read that the other day.

865
00:40:16,398 --> 00:40:18,078
Speaker 4: I mean, I just love the idea that Babe Ruth

866
00:40:18,078 --> 00:40:20,358
Speaker 4: did this, Like that's like showing going around different cities

867
00:40:20,678 --> 00:40:24,238
Speaker 4: during the off season and facing the local you know,

868
00:40:24,318 --> 00:40:28,318
Speaker 4: Stud Pitcher and all the fan for that that would

869
00:40:28,518 --> 00:40:31,718
Speaker 4: be incorporated around something like that. But again, the Babe

870
00:40:31,758 --> 00:40:34,878
Speaker 4: Ruth stuff. Jimmy Reese, Jimmy Reesa, who happened to be

871
00:40:34,878 --> 00:40:36,838
Speaker 4: a friend I talked about, you know the fact that

872
00:40:36,958 --> 00:40:39,078
Speaker 4: you know the six degrees of separation. I mean, I

873
00:40:39,118 --> 00:40:41,678
Speaker 4: go back to Babe Ruth because of Jimmy Reese. He

874
00:40:41,718 --> 00:40:44,558
Speaker 4: did exist. You're right, he did exist because Jimmy validator

875
00:40:44,638 --> 00:40:47,318
Speaker 4: verified that. But it's so interesting and you just can't

876
00:40:47,318 --> 00:40:48,158
Speaker 4: get enough of the guy.

877
00:40:48,558 --> 00:40:50,278
Speaker 3: Yeah, you're right, he did barnstorm.

878
00:40:50,318 --> 00:40:51,918
Speaker 1: I mean sometimes I think they ought to put up

879
00:40:52,158 --> 00:40:54,838
Speaker 1: brass plaques the way they do for Washington slept here.

880
00:40:55,038 --> 00:40:58,278
Speaker 3: Yeah, bab Ruth played here. I mean, he don't forget.

881
00:40:58,358 --> 00:41:00,918
Speaker 1: This is the day and age before it just started

882
00:41:00,918 --> 00:41:04,438
Speaker 1: coming out with some of the newsreel footage. Somebody could

883
00:41:04,478 --> 00:41:07,718
Speaker 1: go to the theater and see some film of Babe Ruth.

884
00:41:07,758 --> 00:41:09,798
Speaker 1: But for the most part, you followed bab Ruth on

885
00:41:09,798 --> 00:41:13,038
Speaker 1: the radio or the newspapers, and people didn't actually see

886
00:41:13,198 --> 00:41:15,318
Speaker 1: Babe Ruth. So if he was coming to your town,

887
00:41:16,158 --> 00:41:18,558
Speaker 1: I mean, to borrow a phrase that was like seeing

888
00:41:18,558 --> 00:41:21,198
Speaker 1: the elephant, where you know, you saw something that was

889
00:41:21,238 --> 00:41:25,878
Speaker 1: extraordinary and rare and just you know, you would everything

890
00:41:25,918 --> 00:41:27,878
Speaker 1: would stop in that town if Baby Ruth was coming

891
00:41:27,878 --> 00:41:30,958
Speaker 1: to town, different day and age. Also, it happens to

892
00:41:30,998 --> 00:41:35,318
Speaker 1: be the birthday of Ernie Shore, one of Baby Ruth's

893
00:41:35,358 --> 00:41:39,438
Speaker 1: teammates with the Boston Red SOX. I'm not sure if

894
00:41:39,438 --> 00:41:42,038
Speaker 1: you know what Ernie Shore is most famous for. One

895
00:41:42,078 --> 00:41:46,198
Speaker 1: particular game. It was June twenty third, nineteen seventeen. Babe

896
00:41:46,238 --> 00:41:49,398
Speaker 1: Ruth was a starting pitcher. He walks the leadoff at

897
00:41:49,478 --> 00:41:52,798
Speaker 1: her on four pitches and I don't know whether he

898
00:41:53,158 --> 00:41:55,438
Speaker 1: was not feeling so good that day, but he went

899
00:41:55,518 --> 00:41:59,238
Speaker 1: after the umpire immediately on four pitches called balls and

900
00:41:59,358 --> 00:42:03,278
Speaker 1: actually clocked the umpire with a punch. Obviously, Babe was

901
00:42:03,278 --> 00:42:07,078
Speaker 1: ejected from game, so Ernie Shore is hustled into the game.

902
00:42:07,118 --> 00:42:09,718
Speaker 1: They only gave him five warm up pitches to get ready,

903
00:42:10,798 --> 00:42:13,358
Speaker 1: but the first batter before he gets the first batter,

904
00:42:13,438 --> 00:42:15,518
Speaker 1: the guy that first tries to steal and gets thrown out.

905
00:42:16,878 --> 00:42:19,718
Speaker 1: Ernie Shore gets the next batter, the next two batters

906
00:42:19,798 --> 00:42:23,918
Speaker 1: on a couple of pitches, and winds up pitching a

907
00:42:23,958 --> 00:42:27,518
Speaker 1: complete game without allowing a base runner. Wow, twenty six up,

908
00:42:27,598 --> 00:42:30,158
Speaker 1: twenty six down with the one caught stealing.

909
00:42:30,438 --> 00:42:31,798
Speaker 3: It sounds like a perfect game.

910
00:42:31,838 --> 00:42:35,798
Speaker 1: At the time, it was considered a no hitter, but

911
00:42:36,038 --> 00:42:39,478
Speaker 1: it went into the books as a combined no hitter officially,

912
00:42:39,558 --> 00:42:42,278
Speaker 1: so you know, one batter did reach base and two

913
00:42:42,318 --> 00:42:45,398
Speaker 1: pitchers did pitch in the game, but the equivalent of

914
00:42:45,518 --> 00:42:48,878
Speaker 1: a perfect game. Ernie Shore got twenty seven ounce without

915
00:42:48,918 --> 00:42:52,718
Speaker 1: anybody reaching base against him, and it happened on the

916
00:42:52,758 --> 00:42:55,518
Speaker 1: spur of the moment thanks to Baby Ruth punching an umpire.

917
00:42:56,198 --> 00:42:59,798
Speaker 4: That sounds that sounds contrived, their pre planned I'm betting.

918
00:43:00,238 --> 00:43:02,718
Speaker 4: I'm betting that the man was out the night before,

919
00:43:02,878 --> 00:43:04,678
Speaker 4: not feeling so good. He might even gone up to

920
00:43:04,718 --> 00:43:06,598
Speaker 4: the empire. He actually hit him?

921
00:43:06,638 --> 00:43:08,038
Speaker 2: Is that right? He actually hit the guy?

922
00:43:08,278 --> 00:43:08,758
Speaker 3: He did?

923
00:43:08,958 --> 00:43:10,358
Speaker 2: Wow? Did wow?

924
00:43:10,518 --> 00:43:14,558
Speaker 4: I never I never knew that, but yeah, it does

925
00:43:14,638 --> 00:43:18,278
Speaker 4: wreak of a hangover to me. And gosh, it almost

926
00:43:18,318 --> 00:43:20,478
Speaker 4: like did he pull the punch? Did he actually smoke him?

927
00:43:21,478 --> 00:43:23,398
Speaker 4: And then and then and then he doesn't get suspended

928
00:43:23,438 --> 00:43:26,438
Speaker 4: or nothing? Right that he makes his next start right

929
00:43:26,598 --> 00:43:27,678
Speaker 4: after smoking an umpire?

930
00:43:27,758 --> 00:43:28,718
Speaker 2: Does he make his next start?

931
00:43:28,798 --> 00:43:31,838
Speaker 1: You know that Back in the day man umpires, man,

932
00:43:31,878 --> 00:43:34,958
Speaker 1: that was a dangerous job. Really, I mean, in the

933
00:43:35,038 --> 00:43:38,038
Speaker 1: early part of the century. Uh, it was a dangerous job.

934
00:43:38,158 --> 00:43:41,478
Speaker 1: Fans players, they were not well respected. They were in

935
00:43:41,558 --> 00:43:44,038
Speaker 1: harm's way for the most part. You only had two

936
00:43:44,158 --> 00:43:45,998
Speaker 1: at the time, you know, the base empire and the

937
00:43:45,998 --> 00:43:50,158
Speaker 1: home plate umpire. But yeah, I mean the safety of

938
00:43:50,198 --> 00:43:53,758
Speaker 1: the Empires was was I want to I want to

939
00:43:53,798 --> 00:43:55,878
Speaker 1: say it's a modern convenience, but back in the day

940
00:43:55,878 --> 00:43:57,878
Speaker 1: it was a dangerous, much more dangerous job.

941
00:43:57,918 --> 00:43:59,758
Speaker 4: It sounds like a Little League, now right. I mean

942
00:43:59,798 --> 00:44:01,478
Speaker 4: you read about all this stuff that's going on.

943
00:44:01,398 --> 00:44:03,238
Speaker 2: In the Little League.

944
00:44:03,318 --> 00:44:06,438
Speaker 4: You know, guy, parents are coming out of the stands. Yeah,

945
00:44:06,638 --> 00:44:08,678
Speaker 4: I didn't realize that. I didn't know that, And that's

946
00:44:08,758 --> 00:44:11,398
Speaker 4: kind of interesting it also, you know then, and of

947
00:44:11,438 --> 00:44:14,998
Speaker 4: course it speaks to probably the lackluster umpiring. I mean,

948
00:44:15,038 --> 00:44:17,758
Speaker 4: it's got to be difficult two guys. So two guys,

949
00:44:17,758 --> 00:44:19,798
Speaker 4: like one guy works the plate daily, that works the

950
00:44:19,798 --> 00:44:22,398
Speaker 4: bases back and forth during the four game series. I mean,

951
00:44:22,438 --> 00:44:24,038
Speaker 4: I had to be tiring as hell if they didn't

952
00:44:24,078 --> 00:44:24,758
Speaker 4: have more than that.

953
00:44:25,038 --> 00:44:27,318
Speaker 2: I never even thought. I never even thought about.

954
00:44:27,318 --> 00:44:31,558
Speaker 4: That's that's a pretty interesting thought process there, the fact

955
00:44:31,558 --> 00:44:32,998
Speaker 4: that there was two umpires.

956
00:44:33,438 --> 00:44:34,518
Speaker 2: Only didn't know that.

957
00:44:34,838 --> 00:44:37,998
Speaker 1: Yeah, Babe Ruth also was famous for and I forget

958
00:44:38,038 --> 00:44:40,998
Speaker 1: the exact year, but he was famous for becoming the

959
00:44:40,998 --> 00:44:44,958
Speaker 1: first player to earn a salary of one hundred thousand

960
00:44:44,958 --> 00:44:48,398
Speaker 1: dollars and he wanted more money than the President of

961
00:44:48,438 --> 00:44:50,518
Speaker 1: the United States, who I think was Hooper at the time,

962
00:44:51,078 --> 00:44:53,598
Speaker 1: and he said, yeah, why not, I had the better year.

963
00:44:54,118 --> 00:44:57,718
Speaker 2: I remember that. It's such a great line, right, awesome.

964
00:44:57,958 --> 00:45:01,638
Speaker 1: Speaking of great lines, we've reached the ninth inning here, Joe,

965
00:45:01,638 --> 00:45:02,918
Speaker 1: you've got the ball in your hands.

966
00:45:03,918 --> 00:45:05,718
Speaker 3: What do you have for us this week at the

967
00:45:05,718 --> 00:45:07,198
Speaker 3: Book of Joe to finish us out?

968
00:45:07,718 --> 00:45:10,198
Speaker 4: Well, you know again it dovetails and everything we've just

969
00:45:10,198 --> 00:45:12,358
Speaker 4: been talking about, because I was I was reading the

970
00:45:12,398 --> 00:45:15,838
Speaker 4: post this morning and I saw the different projected win totals,

971
00:45:16,078 --> 00:45:18,318
Speaker 4: and I was just looking at the lack of the

972
00:45:18,438 --> 00:45:21,398
Speaker 4: overpowering team other than the Dodgers. I mean, the Yankees

973
00:45:21,478 --> 00:45:25,158
Speaker 4: ninety point five tops Inner Division, Detroit eighty five to

974
00:45:25,158 --> 00:45:28,958
Speaker 4: five projected wins, Seattle eighty nine to five, Mets ninety

975
00:45:28,998 --> 00:45:31,638
Speaker 4: point five with the Phillies on their heels, and then

976
00:45:31,678 --> 00:45:32,758
Speaker 4: of course the Dodgers.

977
00:45:32,758 --> 00:45:35,238
Speaker 2: So you know, every spring training.

978
00:45:35,038 --> 00:45:37,678
Speaker 4: Mic go was that we would win more than ninety games,

979
00:45:37,678 --> 00:45:39,638
Speaker 4: and I always thought it took about ninety five to

980
00:45:39,678 --> 00:45:41,958
Speaker 4: get to the playoffs to be successful. So that was

981
00:45:42,038 --> 00:45:46,158
Speaker 4: kind of and again that there's like a parody look

982
00:45:46,198 --> 00:45:49,798
Speaker 4: to all of that. And again I think parody argued

983
00:45:49,878 --> 00:45:51,958
Speaker 4: the point the fact that everybody's kind of working from

984
00:45:51,958 --> 00:45:54,358
Speaker 4: the same sheet of music, looking for the same kind

985
00:45:54,438 --> 00:45:58,718
Speaker 4: of players, and working from the same analytical background. I

986
00:45:58,718 --> 00:46:02,238
Speaker 4: guess that to be equal would be kind of makes sense.

987
00:46:03,158 --> 00:46:06,318
Speaker 4: So I was looking at that, and then from that

988
00:46:06,478 --> 00:46:10,878
Speaker 4: I found this quote from Damon Runyon sports columnist short story.

989
00:46:10,598 --> 00:46:13,158
Speaker 2: Writer from back in the day, and he said.

990
00:46:14,158 --> 00:46:16,758
Speaker 4: The race is not always to the swift, nor the

991
00:46:16,798 --> 00:46:21,078
Speaker 4: battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.

992
00:46:22,558 --> 00:46:25,438
Speaker 4: So with the gambling part of it, it's not always

993
00:46:25,438 --> 00:46:28,798
Speaker 4: to the swift, nor the battle goes to the strong,

994
00:46:28,878 --> 00:46:29,678
Speaker 4: but that's the way to bet.

995
00:46:29,718 --> 00:46:31,838
Speaker 2: You're always going to bet for the swiftest and the strongest.

996
00:46:32,078 --> 00:46:35,318
Speaker 4: I thought that was really well stated and obvious, but

997
00:46:36,038 --> 00:46:38,958
Speaker 4: this reflects reality that even when the odds favor a

998
00:46:38,998 --> 00:46:43,358
Speaker 4: strong contender, outcomes are never guaranteed. And that's exactly what

999
00:46:43,358 --> 00:46:45,998
Speaker 4: we're talking about right now. And then on top of that,

1000
00:46:46,078 --> 00:46:48,198
Speaker 4: I did a little more research on Damon Runyon. Born

1001
00:46:48,238 --> 00:46:52,998
Speaker 4: in Manhattan, Kansas, but grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, which

1002
00:46:53,038 --> 00:46:55,478
Speaker 4: we played at with the Boulder Collegians and then he

1003
00:46:55,598 --> 00:46:58,438
Speaker 4: managed to semi pro team and Trindada Colorado. That's where

1004
00:46:58,478 --> 00:47:01,078
Speaker 4: I burned the infield. In the Book of Joe, we

1005
00:47:01,158 --> 00:47:03,758
Speaker 4: burned the infields in order to watch Danny Jackson pitch.

1006
00:47:04,278 --> 00:47:07,838
Speaker 4: This guy, Damon Runyan, actually managed a semi pro team

1007
00:47:07,838 --> 00:47:10,638
Speaker 4: in Trinidad called about all this stuff started to unwind.

1008
00:47:10,878 --> 00:47:14,718
Speaker 4: It was a Spinks Award winner Baseball Writers of America.

1009
00:47:14,518 --> 00:47:19,118
Speaker 4: Pretty interesting fella, but really a great writer at that time.

1010
00:47:19,678 --> 00:47:23,878
Speaker 4: And it really, I think, absolutely encapsulate exactly what's going

1011
00:47:23,918 --> 00:47:27,478
Speaker 4: on right now. Everybody's expecting the Dodgers, the swift and

1012
00:47:27,518 --> 00:47:30,358
Speaker 4: the strong, but outcomes are never guaranteed, and I don't

1013
00:47:30,358 --> 00:47:32,878
Speaker 4: think it's going to be guaranteed this year among all

1014
00:47:32,878 --> 00:47:35,918
Speaker 4: these you know, everybody's you know, crying about the Dodgers.

1015
00:47:36,158 --> 00:47:37,838
Speaker 4: I think it's gonna be hard for them to come

1016
00:47:37,838 --> 00:47:40,758
Speaker 4: back into it again. I think somebody's gonna unseat them

1017
00:47:40,798 --> 00:47:41,158
Speaker 4: this year.

1018
00:47:41,838 --> 00:47:45,118
Speaker 3: Well said. I love the Damon Runyan reference. Terrific writer.

1019
00:47:45,438 --> 00:47:48,238
Speaker 1: By the way, I read some terrific fiction as well,

1020
00:47:49,158 --> 00:47:51,278
Speaker 1: created just memorable characters.

1021
00:47:52,078 --> 00:47:54,118
Speaker 3: I'm with you on the Dodgers. Put it this way, Joe.

1022
00:47:54,158 --> 00:47:56,678
Speaker 1: In the last two years, no team has won more

1023
00:47:56,718 --> 00:47:58,278
Speaker 1: than ninety eight games.

1024
00:47:58,238 --> 00:47:59,198
Speaker 3: Two straight years.

1025
00:47:59,198 --> 00:48:01,078
Speaker 1: So if you're thinking about the Dodgers being one hundred

1026
00:48:01,078 --> 00:48:01,918
Speaker 1: and three win team.

1027
00:48:02,918 --> 00:48:03,838
Speaker 3: You mentioned that word.

1028
00:48:04,158 --> 00:48:06,958
Speaker 1: There is more parody here, and I think teams realize

1029
00:48:07,158 --> 00:48:11,558
Speaker 1: that it's about positioning yourself for October, that you know,

1030
00:48:11,718 --> 00:48:15,318
Speaker 1: running up a huge number of wins. Listen, you want

1031
00:48:15,318 --> 00:48:17,638
Speaker 1: to win what you can to get into the postseason.

1032
00:48:18,078 --> 00:48:21,238
Speaker 1: You don't want to, you know, get barely over five

1033
00:48:21,318 --> 00:48:23,958
Speaker 1: hundred and think you're going to slip in. But I

1034
00:48:23,998 --> 00:48:26,798
Speaker 1: don't see the Dodgers going over one hundred wins. And

1035
00:48:27,518 --> 00:48:30,958
Speaker 1: we think about two years ago the Padres nearly took

1036
00:48:30,958 --> 00:48:33,278
Speaker 1: the Dodgers out, had them on the ropes, and of

1037
00:48:33,278 --> 00:48:35,518
Speaker 1: course last year the Toronto Blue Jays had them down

1038
00:48:35,558 --> 00:48:38,438
Speaker 1: to the last two outs and nearly took them out.

1039
00:48:38,558 --> 00:48:41,638
Speaker 3: So they are not, by any means a lock.

1040
00:48:42,158 --> 00:48:44,958
Speaker 1: I do think, though, Joe, if they're pitching, is healthy

1041
00:48:45,278 --> 00:48:49,358
Speaker 1: in October again and nobody's gonna beat them. I'm sorry,

1042
00:48:49,518 --> 00:48:51,758
Speaker 1: I think they're that good, but we'll see.

1043
00:48:52,198 --> 00:48:54,118
Speaker 4: I like the Phillies pitching til you already brought that up.

1044
00:48:54,278 --> 00:48:56,558
Speaker 4: I still like the Philly been on the Phillies for

1045
00:48:56,558 --> 00:48:58,278
Speaker 4: a couple of years right now, I've been on them,

1046
00:48:58,318 --> 00:49:01,758
Speaker 4: and I still do like them. Out of the American League,

1047
00:49:02,518 --> 00:49:04,758
Speaker 4: of course, that's a nationally going to act situation that

1048
00:49:04,798 --> 00:49:06,558
Speaker 4: would put the Phillies in the World Series against one

1049
00:49:06,558 --> 00:49:09,118
Speaker 4: of those teams, which I still think the Philly staff

1050
00:49:09,158 --> 00:49:11,358
Speaker 4: could could match up against the Dodgers.

1051
00:49:11,438 --> 00:49:13,798
Speaker 1: All right, so let's end it with our World Series picks.

1052
00:49:14,678 --> 00:49:16,358
Speaker 1: I'm actually with you on the Phillies.

1053
00:49:16,558 --> 00:49:17,198
Speaker 2: I do.

1054
00:49:17,278 --> 00:49:19,838
Speaker 1: I like the makeup of this team. I think the

1055
00:49:19,878 --> 00:49:21,998
Speaker 1: clock is ticking on them and they know that. But

1056
00:49:21,998 --> 00:49:24,758
Speaker 1: I also like the fact that they have they bringing

1057
00:49:24,758 --> 00:49:26,798
Speaker 1: in some young blood this year with Crawford and center

1058
00:49:26,878 --> 00:49:29,558
Speaker 1: field painter and the rotation Aid Miller is probably gonna

1059
00:49:29,558 --> 00:49:32,318
Speaker 1: come up at some point. I like that blend, if

1060
00:49:32,358 --> 00:49:35,918
Speaker 1: you will, with the established star players, the veteran players,

1061
00:49:36,358 --> 00:49:38,518
Speaker 1: and the American League. I'll go with the Seattle Mariners.

1062
00:49:39,198 --> 00:49:41,798
Speaker 1: Love their pitching staff. They got a taste of it

1063
00:49:41,878 --> 00:49:44,838
Speaker 1: last year, got within one win of the World Series,

1064
00:49:44,918 --> 00:49:48,998
Speaker 1: actually had a lead in Game seven against Toronto. So

1065
00:49:49,118 --> 00:49:53,358
Speaker 1: I'll go with a Philadelphia Seattle World Series.

1066
00:49:53,398 --> 00:49:55,518
Speaker 3: That's a lot of travel. I just signed up for.

1067
00:49:55,678 --> 00:49:56,318
Speaker 3: What do you got?

1068
00:49:56,838 --> 00:49:58,958
Speaker 4: In the famous words of Meatloa, if you took the

1069
00:49:58,998 --> 00:50:03,718
Speaker 4: words right out of my mouth, I had the same

1070
00:50:03,758 --> 00:50:05,158
Speaker 4: thing I had Seattle, I.

1071
00:50:05,158 --> 00:50:07,278
Speaker 1: Did or as The New York Times referred to him,

1072
00:50:07,358 --> 00:50:09,598
Speaker 1: mister Loaf missed reference.

1073
00:50:09,678 --> 00:50:10,678
Speaker 3: It was mister Love.

1074
00:50:10,878 --> 00:50:15,078
Speaker 2: Mister Loaf, I love the Bad out of Hell. You know.

1075
00:50:15,278 --> 00:50:18,278
Speaker 4: He had a The Rocky Heart Picture Show is playing

1076
00:50:18,638 --> 00:50:22,038
Speaker 4: in a small theater in Monterey, California, if I don't

1077
00:50:22,078 --> 00:50:24,318
Speaker 4: know how long, and it was a midnight show and

1078
00:50:24,358 --> 00:50:26,438
Speaker 4: people would come in sit on pillows. I didn't do it.

1079
00:50:26,478 --> 00:50:29,358
Speaker 4: I should have done it. I was capable of that,

1080
00:50:29,398 --> 00:50:31,198
Speaker 4: but I didn't. But meat Love was one of my

1081
00:50:31,198 --> 00:50:33,918
Speaker 4: all time favorites. And so the words right out of

1082
00:50:33,918 --> 00:50:36,038
Speaker 4: my mouth, Seattle and the Phillies.

1083
00:50:36,078 --> 00:50:39,198
Speaker 2: I see that. I can definitely, definitely see that.

1084
00:50:39,438 --> 00:50:42,118
Speaker 1: Look forward to opening day and a great twenty twenty

1085
00:50:42,358 --> 00:50:45,758
Speaker 1: six baseball season. Always a pleasure. Joe, We'll see you

1086
00:50:45,758 --> 00:50:46,918
Speaker 1: next time on the Book of Joe.

1087
00:50:47,038 --> 00:50:48,598
Speaker 2: Thanks Tom. What are you starting? Where are you going?

1088
00:50:48,838 --> 00:50:49,198
Speaker 3: I had?

1089
00:50:49,238 --> 00:50:51,638
Speaker 1: I'm in a studio for opening Day, and then on

1090
00:50:51,678 --> 00:50:55,278
Speaker 1: the weekend I have the Minnesota Twins at the Baltimore Orioles.

1091
00:50:55,558 --> 00:50:55,838
Speaker 2: Cool.

1092
00:50:56,398 --> 00:50:59,198
Speaker 1: I'm really curious about the Oriols. I just checked their schedule.

1093
00:50:59,198 --> 00:51:01,798
Speaker 1: By the way, their first sixteen games they do not

1094
00:51:02,038 --> 00:51:04,398
Speaker 1: play a team that had a winning record last so

1095
00:51:04,638 --> 00:51:07,358
Speaker 1: I should have mentioned this. Teams getting off the good starts.

1096
00:51:07,398 --> 00:51:09,838
Speaker 1: The Orioles, they need to re establish who they are.

1097
00:51:10,478 --> 00:51:12,678
Speaker 1: Schedule says they've got it set.

1098
00:51:12,558 --> 00:51:15,278
Speaker 3: Up to get off to a good start. Really important

1099
00:51:15,278 --> 00:51:16,638
Speaker 3: for them as well as the New York Mets.

1100
00:51:16,638 --> 00:51:18,598
Speaker 2: Sounds good. Just stress warm, We'll.

1101
00:51:18,398 --> 00:51:20,678
Speaker 3: Do see you next time, See you buddy, all right.

1102
00:51:29,598 --> 00:51:32,798
Speaker 1: The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio.

1103
00:51:33,038 --> 00:51:37,998
Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

1104
00:51:38,118 --> 00:51:39,918
Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.