1 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Sean Spradling, you said out a pretty good explainer about 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: the WBC insurance issues, and there's a lot of questions 3 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: right now about that situation. So welcome to feld territory. 4 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: If you can explain this to the lay person, what's 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:19,959 Speaker 1: going on with the insurance? 6 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, thank you for having me. 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 3: I think this, like you said, this is a perfect 8 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 3: time to talk to WBC for two reasons. One because 9 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 3: of all the insurance issues and two because of AJ's 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 3: comments on the last show where he called it an exhibition. 11 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 2: So we'll get into that, but. 12 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 4: I can't wait for this bullshit. 13 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: With the insurance. 14 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's if you look on Twitter, it's been a 15 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 3: mess because fans are mad and players are mad, and 16 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 3: everyone's kind of up in arms trying to figure out 17 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 3: what's going on because it seems like there's more players 18 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 3: that are being denied insurance for this tournament than the 19 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,639 Speaker 3: last one. And it all comes down to guaranteed salaries, 20 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 3: like who's on the hook for actually paying for the 21 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 3: players if they get hurt in the WBC. And unfortunately, 22 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 3: like a lot of the top Puerto Rican players have 23 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,119 Speaker 3: been the ones that have been like the bigger casualties 24 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 3: from the tournament obviously the big names like Francisco Lindor 25 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 3: and Carlos Korea. So we're trying to figure out there's frankly, 26 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 3: not much transparency into the process of like what makes 27 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 3: a player insurable versus uninsurable. 28 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: I think that would kind. 29 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 3: Of clear up a lot of issues because the big 30 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 3: discourse right now is like you see a lot of 31 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 3: fans saying, like, how did Byron Buxton get approved his 32 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 3: insurance but Francisco Lindor did not, And so there's just 33 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 3: a lot of confusion as to what causes a player 34 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 3: to be insurable or not ensurable. But ultimately, every player 35 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 3: on a forty man roster that plays in the WBC 36 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 3: is required to have some sort of insurance otherwise their 37 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 3: their salary is not guaranteed. 38 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 4: You know, that's a big problem. But by the way, 39 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 4: just to answer your question, we're gonna get into later. 40 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 4: You want to know what means more of the regular season, 41 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 4: because if it's mean so much and wasn't an exhibition, 42 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 4: all these guys will be playing. But now let's get 43 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,959 Speaker 4: into the insurance. Okay, The insurance thing for me, listen, 44 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 4: is somebody that was denied from playing in the two 45 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 4: thousand and six to one because the team just said no. 46 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 3: Right. 47 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 4: It's changed over the years and teams allow more teams 48 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 4: to listen to edwind Di has announced that he's going 49 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 4: to play for Puerto Rico and he's like the example. 50 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 4: Everyone says, like, gosh, guys get hurt and missed the year. Okay, 51 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 4: have we gone too far now? 52 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 5: Though? 53 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 4: Have the team's gone too far? If guys really want 54 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 4: to play. Lindor wants to play, obviously, Miguel ro Oz 55 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 4: wants to play. All these guys want to play for 56 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 4: their country and represent where they're from. And I think 57 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 4: it's bigger for Puerto Rico because the talent pool is 58 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 4: smaller than a US or even a Dominican or some 59 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 4: Venezuela some of the others teams. But have we gone 60 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 4: too far? On the side of gosh, we have to 61 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 4: be so careful because honestly, position players they don't get 62 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 4: hurt and miss the year very often. 63 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, well, that's the thing is like pretty 64 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,399 Speaker 3: much all the big stars are into the tournament. It's 65 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 3: no longer the questions no longer like do the players 66 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 3: want to play? It's like we need to find a 67 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 3: way to get them in, like to actually be able 68 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 3: to play, and I think that's been one of the 69 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 3: biggest frustrations for fans is like, Okay, Francisco Lindor was 70 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 3: announced a year ago that he wants to play, and 71 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 3: he had this minor cleanup over the off season, and 72 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 3: so because of that, he got denied insurance. But he's 73 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 3: healthy enough to play in spring training. That's kind of 74 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 3: the confusion that I think fans are dealing with right now. 75 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 3: But yeah, I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if the 76 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: WBC is not one of the main talking points when 77 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 3: it comes to CBA negotiations coming up, because we've gotten 78 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 3: past the players. 79 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 2: Wanting to play or not wanting to play. 80 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 3: All of the like Latin American countries, East Asian countries, 81 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 3: they've all been bought in since the first tournament. It's 82 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 3: just a lot of the American pitchers, for good reason, 83 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 3: have been kind of back and forth on wanting to play, 84 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 3: wanting to be healthy for the season. 85 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: But that's not the issue time. 86 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 3: I mean, we have the two best pitchers in the 87 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 3: on the planet pitching in the WBC for Team USA, 88 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 3: So I agree. I think it has maybe gone a 89 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 3: little bit too far one way. 90 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: Sean, why does it seem like Puerto Rico in particular 91 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: is taking the biggest hit. 92 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 3: That's the biggest question that everyone's trying to answer right now, 93 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 3: And it's some fans will say it's biased. I don't 94 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 3: necessarily think it's biased towards one country or another because 95 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 3: we don't know what the insurer is considering when it 96 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 3: comes to who is insurable and who is not insurable. 97 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 3: I think a lot of it is they're really taking 98 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 3: into account like recent injuries and surgeries and procedures that 99 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 3: are that have been done. So for example, Lindor with 100 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 3: his cleanup over the over the offseason, it seems like 101 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 3: that was a big enough and recent enough event for 102 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 3: them to deny him insurance. Whereas let's say Byron Buxton, 103 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 3: that's the name that everybody is throwing out as like 104 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 3: how did he get approved for the WBC insurance when he's. 105 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 2: Been hurt for so long? 106 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 3: Well, he did also just come off of his like 107 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 3: probably his most healthy season he's had of his career. 108 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 3: And the other thing is the insurance policies change depending 109 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 3: on how on how expensive your contract is. So it's 110 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 3: like the policy that you're gonna have for insurance for 111 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 3: Lindor is gonna be much more expensive than it is 112 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 3: for Buxton. So I don't think, personally my personal opinions, 113 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 3: I don't think there's any bias towards or against certain countries. 114 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 2: I think it's just. 115 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 3: Been a really unlucky, lucky like draw for Puerto Rico, 116 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 3: especially because they're hosting. 117 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 2: They're one of the four hosts for the tournament in 118 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 2: San Juan. 119 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 3: Like fans have already bought tickets to go to Puerto Rico, 120 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 3: they bought plane tickets, tickets to the games, and so 121 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 3: it's really unfortunate that this is all happening like right 122 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 3: before rosters are announced. But there is like glimmer of 123 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 3: hope because there are already a couple of pictures that 124 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 3: have been reversed. They've either been previously denied insurance and 125 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 3: now been given insurance or they've found alternative insurance options 126 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 3: and are now able to play in the WBC. So 127 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 3: it seems like they're figuring things out at least internally. 128 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 3: We'll find out everything else on Thursday when the rosters 129 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 3: are actually announced, but for now we're kind of just 130 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 3: in this like waiting of seeing who's going to be 131 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 3: approved and who won't. 132 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 6: How much of a how much of a blow is 133 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 6: this because of the fact that Team Puerto Rico is 134 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 6: hosting it in San Juan. Is they finally get to 135 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 6: host it? And I think it was eight, eight or 136 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 6: nine guys were denied based on insurance. Like how big 137 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 6: of a blow is it? And how big of a 138 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 6: blow would it be if Team Puerto Rico says no, no, 139 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 6: we're we're pulling out. We're We're not. 140 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: Oh, I mean, it would be massive. Yeah, I mean, like, 141 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: Puerto Rico has been one. 142 00:06:55,520 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 3: Of the most loyal WB supporters. They're fans, their players, 143 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 3: their federation since its inception in two thousand and six, 144 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 3: Like that is no doubt. They're some of the most passionate, 145 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 3: excited fans of the WBC. And so if they pull out, 146 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 3: like you said, the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation president has 147 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 3: threatened to withdraw from the tournament, and if they were 148 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 3: to do that, it would be massive. It would be 149 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 3: a massive blow for the WBC because you lose one 150 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 3: of your hosts and you lose one of your most 151 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 3: loyal supporting countries of the WBC. I think because we 152 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 3: have these players that are starting to get approved insurance 153 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 3: and finding other alternatives. I don't think that they're going 154 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 3: to go through with actually pulling out of the tournament. 155 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 2: It just would be a huge loss for the WBC. 156 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 3: But I don't think that long term, let's assume that 157 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 3: they don't pull out of the WBC, I don't think 158 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 3: that it's going to affect the long term health of 159 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 3: the WBC much. I think that this instead of like 160 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 3: dissolving the WBC and how it fall apart, I think 161 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 3: it's going to be the opposite. 162 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: I think it actually. 163 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 3: Shows how passionate fans are about the WBC and how 164 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 3: important it is now that there is such a big 165 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 3: pushback when players like Lindor aren't approved for the tournament. 166 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 3: Like you have politicians, you have the federation's president in 167 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 3: Puerto Rico saying like, we're not going to play in 168 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 3: this tournament unless we get our top players. That shows 169 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 3: how important the WBC is now compared to how much 170 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: it was perceived to how important it was perceived to 171 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 3: be maybe ten fifteen years ago. 172 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 2: And so I think that this will bring. 173 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 3: About reform rather than like tearing the WBC apart. 174 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,959 Speaker 4: Just definitely there's no way that they withdraw. There's no way. 175 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 4: I'm sorry, it's a cool it's a cool thing, like 176 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 4: we're going to boycott. But there's no way they pull out. 177 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 4: They're hosting. They're gonna get a bunch of money. There's 178 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 4: no way. The Puerto Rican Baseball they'll figure it out 179 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,199 Speaker 4: one way or another. They'll figure it out. But what 180 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 4: I want to say is what you just said at 181 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 4: the end. We're going to get into it now. Okay, 182 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 4: this is still an exhibition. It's an important exposition. Everybody 183 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 4: loves it. I love the WBC listen, I'm a fan. 184 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 4: I think this is awesome. I think it's one of 185 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,599 Speaker 4: the great showcases. It reminds me. I wish there was 186 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 4: a better time to do it, like the Four Nations 187 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 4: did in the NHL. But I love it. I love 188 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 4: the passion. I love that the USA has now finally 189 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 4: bought in because at the beginning they were like, oh, 190 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 4: this is kind of a joke, and then Dominican Japan 191 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 4: everyone went out and kicked USA's button. Now they're like, 192 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 4: all right, we need our best guys out there. But 193 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 4: it's still an exhibition, okay, and it still doesn't mean 194 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 4: anything At the end of the day, the World Series 195 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 4: in the playoffs are still more important to everybody. I'm sorry, John, 196 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 4: JP Morosi, all you guys that love the WBC, because 197 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 4: I'm one of the WBC lovers, Okay, But at the 198 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 4: end of the day, when someone goes into the Hall 199 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 4: of Fame, they don't say he was on a WBC 200 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 4: second place team. They say he won a World Series, 201 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 4: or he was on the National League Championship, or he 202 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 4: did this in the postseason. They don't say, and this 203 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 4: guy hit three twenty in the twenty twenty three WBC. 204 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 4: Only thing that people remember from the twenty twenty fe 205 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 4: WBC is the home run by Trey Turner and the 206 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 4: strikeout of Mike trel It was a great tournament. There 207 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 4: was unbelievable moments, but those are what people remember. 208 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 2: These are my fake reading glasses. I don't actually need them. 209 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 3: They're blue light glasses, but they're to emphasize my point 210 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 3: that I'm about to make. So Nelson Cruz direct quote, 211 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 3: the WBC is the real World Series. Jean Segura Christian 212 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 3: Vasquez said, if I were have to pick between the 213 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,959 Speaker 3: World Series and the WBC, I'd pick the WBC. 214 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 2: Randy Rose Arena. 215 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 3: He said, my catch in the WBC was better than 216 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 3: the home run I hit in the World Series. Trout 217 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 3: and Muki the most fun experience I've ever had playing baseball. 218 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 2: I think that it's just. 219 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 3: A word semantics issue because in the International Baseball World Exhibition, 220 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 3: the word exhibition is always synonymous with meaningless, which is 221 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 3: the farthest thing from the truth. And I think you 222 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 3: agree with that. It's not meaningless by any means at all. 223 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 3: The word exhibition is always used in that sense of 224 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 3: like meaningless exhibition tournament. I think the distinction is it's 225 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 3: not an exhibition, it's a global championship, because exhibitions don't 226 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 3: have qualifiers for that event. They don't have they don't have. 227 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 3: You don't heavily recruit for an exhibition. It's it's a 228 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 3: global championship, is what I would call it. That's the 229 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 3: only distinction I would make. 230 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 4: You don't recruit for the All Star Game. Sorry, you 231 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 4: don't recruit for the All Star Game. That's an exhibition. 232 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 3: That doesn't mean we're the qualifiers, though you don't have 233 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,559 Speaker 3: to qualify to get into the game. 234 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 4: Who has to qualify to get into the WBC? 235 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:35,079 Speaker 5: The teams at the ball. 236 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 2: Of the countries. 237 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 3: We had WBC qualifiers last year or yes, bring twenty twenty. 238 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 4: Five was the United States and a qualifier all the time? No, 239 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 4: so you mean so you mean to tell me that 240 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 4: the United States had to qualify for the WBC. They 241 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 4: were gonna say, no. 242 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 7: USA is out, guys, USA didn't qualify. Not a fucking chance, 243 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 7: not a jaesus aja. I will disagree. I won't even 244 00:11:58,520 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 7: let Sean talk on it. 245 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:00,319 Speaker 2: One. 246 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 6: You have to. Everybody has to qualify, and Sean probably 247 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 6: knows the semantics more. Now, if you get second place 248 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 6: in the previous WBC, that's a certain amount of points, 249 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 6: and then over the next three years you you amass 250 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 6: tons of points. That's why Poland's not in because Poland 251 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 6: has zero points. Right now, fine, and I won't. 252 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 3: Do end up managing for Poland. They're not gonna like 253 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 3: you're saying, it's an exhibition. 254 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 4: Rob manfor didn't like a lot of things. I say, 255 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 4: what's new? I mean, okay, I mean I mean a 256 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 4: lot of people that don't like things that I say. 257 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 6: I don't care. 258 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 4: I mean they're exhibition again. I'm gonna go back to 259 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 4: my original point that I said it's exhibition is probably 260 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 4: the wrong word. Okay, but if this was a regular 261 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 4: season game, and we even said it on here, Francisco 262 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 4: Lindor can play in regular exhibition games in spring training, 263 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 4: but they're not letting them play in these exhibition games, 264 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 4: so they won them ready for the regular season. These 265 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 4: games do not mean as much as the regular season 266 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 4: to some people some people. 267 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 3: To some people there that's a good distinction to some people. 268 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 2: Nelson Cruz would disagree. 269 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: I also think these games don't mean as much to 270 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: the teams. The World Baseball Classic doesn't mean as much 271 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: to the teams, but to the players. As Sean was 272 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: just saying, these games matter more to some players than 273 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: their Major League Baseball games, albeit regular season and postseason. 274 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: So the individual is different than the entity. 275 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 3: Yes, and I think there's an important distinction to make too. 276 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 3: Is like in this in talking about this insurance issue, 277 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 3: it only applies to MLB forty man rosters. Like all 278 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 3: of the players in NPB and KBO CPBL, they have 279 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 3: their own process to figure out insurance, but this specific 280 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 3: insurer for the WBC is. 281 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 2: For forty man roster players. 282 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 3: So it's it's interesting that to see like of course, 283 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 3: like most of the big stars in our game are 284 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 3: in MLB, so it ends up impacting a lot of 285 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 3: our biggest stars. 286 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:09,719 Speaker 2: And like a Francisco Indoor. 287 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 3: I mean MLB had Franciscool Indoor front and center on 288 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 3: all the promos leading up to the tournament. It's not 289 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 3: like MLB doesn't want their big stars in the tournament. 290 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 3: I think it's just we need to figure out a 291 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 3: way to have a little bit more transparency into the 292 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 3: process so that we at least know what to expect 293 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 3: when a player is listed as ensurable or uninsurable. And 294 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 3: the one word exhibition. We might just need to rebrand 295 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 3: it to Global Championship. 296 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: Sean, I love it. Keep doing what you're doing, Keep 297 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: fighting the power. My friends appreciate you. 298 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 4: Got to change the name of the World Series because 299 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 4: it's not technically it's not really the World Series. 300 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 3: That's what Nelson Cruse said. 301 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 2: The WBC is the real World Series. 302 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 4: A couple of countries playing the quote World Series like 303 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 4: I would. I'd love to play Japan. It's champion. I'll 304 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 4: take the twenty twenty five Dodgers against whoever wants the MPB, 305 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 4: whoever wins the Caribbean World Series. 306 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 2: I'll take those the International Baseball world that for years. 307 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 3: If we could finally have like the winner of NPB 308 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 3: play against the Dodgers, the whole International Baseball world. 309 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 2: Would absolutely love that. I would love to see that. 310 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: Yes, Twitter's head would explode. Sewn, thank you so much. 311 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: We know you've got to get on another call. We 312 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: appreciate it. You guys can check out what Sean's doing 313 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: of course on X at Sean Spradling. We'll talk to 314 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: you again soon. 315 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: Appreciate it. Thanks guys, all right, good. 316 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: To have Richie back on foul Territory with us. Good 317 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: to be with you. I want to talk a little 318 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: bit about basically what guys are doing Richie, to get ready, 319 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: to stay ready, to be in shape, to be healthy. 320 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: I mean, it seems like injuries, of course, are such 321 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: a big part of the game. Arm issues with guys 322 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: with pictures. Seems like everyone's having Tommy John. So what 323 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: do you think I think the biggest thing is right 324 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: now in terms of guys getting healthy and staying healthy 325 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: for the long term. 326 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, well, thanks thanks for having me on. I appreciate it. 327 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 5: Good to see you all. 328 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 8: I think there's kind of these two worlds for players, 329 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 8: I'm like, how they have to get ready for this? 330 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 8: You got like the players like myself who had to 331 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 8: be ready like one hundred percent day one on camp. 332 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 5: Because you got to be you know, to compete for 333 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 5: a spot. 334 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 8: And then there's guys who can kind of use spring 335 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 8: training to kind of ramp up for the season. So 336 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 8: it kind of depends on like where your situation's at 337 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 8: with what you're what you're sort of training for, and 338 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 8: what you're competing for. 339 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 5: And so I think right now guys are. 340 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 8: Probably right in the middle of ramping up like their 341 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 8: arm full capacity, getting like their their their swing at 342 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 8: one hundred percent, getting. 343 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 5: Ready to go. So it just kind of depends on 344 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 5: sort of. 345 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 8: Where you're at in your career and what you're competing for, 346 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 8: because uh, you know, i'd like guys you me to 347 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 8: have the luxury of like having two to three weeks 348 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 8: to kind of get up to speed for for a 349 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 8: live of bats. 350 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 5: You had to be ready to go day one, and 351 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 5: other guys. 352 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 8: Can kind of take take take some time to get 353 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 8: used to things. 354 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 6: Ritchie, that is not true at all. You were a 355 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 6: first rounder, you are a superstar coming in. Maybe you 356 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 6: should have just relaxed, bro and just like said, Hey, everybody, 357 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:12,160 Speaker 6: I'm going to hit when I'm gonna hit, so take 358 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 6: take your time evaluating me. 359 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean maybe I should have. That's probably what 360 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 8: I needed to do, But I didn't do that. Unfortunately. 361 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 8: I was a nut job. 362 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 5: I was all over the. 363 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 8: Place, So you know, I was you know, I was 364 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 8: certainly someone who put, you know, a lot of pressure 365 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 8: on myself. And so I think there's like a whole 366 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 8: mental game leand Lenz here for baseball that gets overlooked. 367 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 8: And so that's a lot of stuff that I've been 368 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 8: doing with players is trying to help them sort of 369 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,360 Speaker 8: really hone in on that mental game and really understand 370 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 8: that that's kind of where your ceiling's out as a player. 371 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 5: But yeah, I should have been more showy, for sure. 372 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 5: I was. I was such a rule follower, man. 373 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 8: I was like, Oh, I don't want to I don't 374 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 8: want to be a breaking the rules. I'm like, no, 375 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 8: I should have been. I should have been way showier 376 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 8: than I was. 377 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 6: Wait, you're helping players out now, but you're not part 378 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 6: of a team. Shouldn't be teams teams be like giving 379 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:03,199 Speaker 6: this valuation helping out like people that don't know you 380 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 6: were expert. You were you were playing on like Team 381 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 6: USA at like fourteen years old. You were a stud. 382 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 6: You went to Clemson, you were a first rounder, like 383 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 6: you were the guy that was untouchable, you couldn't be 384 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 6: traded to move. But why are teams not helping enough 385 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 6: with this kind of stuff? And why does somebody outside 386 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 6: of the game, like you need to be helping. 387 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's a great question. 388 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 8: Honestly, it's a weird world when you get into it, 389 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 8: especially like because you mean, you're right for all intensive purposes. 390 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 8: I was like a huge amateur prospect coming up. I 391 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 8: had like all of the hit all the check boxes, 392 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 8: the first round pick, all these. 393 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 5: Things, and you know, you get in there and then. 394 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 8: You realize quickly that there's a lot of people who 395 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 8: sort of try to get your you know, they try 396 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 8: to make their mark on you as a player in 397 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 8: case you come up and you become a big star and. 398 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 5: Then kind of say like, oh, yeah, I helped develop him. 399 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 8: And you get a lot of conflicting philosophies and if 400 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 8: there's no like a set organizational philosophy and like how 401 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 8: we're gonna develop players, it's. 402 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 5: Kind of chaos. Like, you know, I try to be. 403 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 8: Super objective about about my career, and you know, there 404 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 8: are a lot of things that I did wrong, for sure, 405 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 8: But you know, there was a lot of things that 406 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 8: happened in like the experimental stays, the experimental days of 407 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 8: the of the Tampa Bay Rays as they were coming 408 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 8: up and figuring out how to compete on like no budget, 409 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 8: essentially that there are a lot of guinea pig stuff happening, 410 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 8: And I was like one of those guinea pigs for sure. 411 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 8: And you know, I just don't think the draft gets 412 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,399 Speaker 8: treated a lot like we're gonna throw pickles at the 413 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 8: wall and see what sticks, instead of like, hey, like 414 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 8: let's really commit a lot of our money and our 415 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 8: resources into creating the best development that we can possibly have. 416 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:43,239 Speaker 8: Because even if we get a guy and who's out 417 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 8: of college, wh's twenty one years old, there's just still 418 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 8: a massive gap between like that guy and being like. 419 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 5: Big league ready. 420 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 8: Right, There's there's a few guys who can you know, 421 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 8: make the jump right away, but from a position player standpoint, 422 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 8: it's very very few. Like Langford is a guy who's 423 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,040 Speaker 8: like he happens so quick, Like those dudes are just 424 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 8: that is so rare, even for even for the great, 425 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 8: great college players that come out like high school players 426 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,360 Speaker 8: have a little bit more run time, Like teams are 427 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 8: just not spending enough time, like dedicate sophisticated resources to 428 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 8: developing guys or just hey, we're just going to throw 429 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 8: anything of the wall. 430 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 5: Whatever sticks you guys in the big leagues. Congratulations, Richie. 431 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 1: It seems like there's more of an emphasis on speaking 432 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: about the challenges of mental health in sports, and you know, 433 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: it used to be a lot more taboo for people 434 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: to speak about it publicly. Certainly I would imagine for 435 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: men to speak about it was a lot harder. How 436 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: do you think it has changed over the course of 437 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: your time doing this? I mean, obviously you played for 438 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: the Rays in fifteen and sixteen. Here we are, you know, 439 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: almost ten years later. How has it changed and what 440 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: else still needs to be done to tap into the 441 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: fact that so much of this game is mental and 442 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: mental health in this game, I mean it will kick you. 443 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:54,479 Speaker 1: This game will kick you right in your teeth. So 444 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: how much does it change and what else needs to 445 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 1: be done? 446 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 8: Yeah, I think there's like conversations, right, there's a mental 447 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 8: health and then what I like to call mental strength 448 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 8: or mental skills, right, you kind of like two varying paths. 449 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,479 Speaker 8: Like baseball is inherently a failure based game. If you're 450 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 8: a hitter, you're going to get out the vast majority 451 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 8: of the time. Human beings do not like to do 452 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 8: tasks where you're going to fail the vast majority of 453 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 8: the time. So we are not equipped organically to handle 454 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 8: this game. Like we have to have systems in place 455 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 8: in order to combat those and a lot of times, 456 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 8: like the failure that you're going to consistently have, the 457 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 8: level of lack of control of your career, of your life, 458 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 8: and the lifestyle that you live sort of in the 459 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 8: minor leagues as you're trying to reach the pinnacle of 460 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 8: the big leagues. All those things combined can lead to 461 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 8: really really bad mental health. But on the same token, 462 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,199 Speaker 8: like you need to have these these mental skills and 463 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 8: mental strength in order to maintain a good mental health. 464 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 8: And so there was there's certainly a lack of openness 465 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 8: to kind of have discussions like this, right, Like you 466 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,439 Speaker 8: were kind of expected to be able to just like 467 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 8: handle this adversity and do these things on your own. 468 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 8: There was zero like sophisticated resources or tools when I 469 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 8: played in terms of like how to build a sustainable, 470 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 8: resilient you know, mindset around this, And I think it's 471 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 8: really opening up to where you can talk about these 472 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 8: things in a way that's not going to. 473 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 5: Attach some stigma to you. 474 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 8: I know that a lot of these teams they have 475 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 8: you know, kind of mental skills coaches or mental health 476 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 8: coaches or whatever. 477 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 5: But one thing that I've always. 478 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 8: Noticed was a big gap. And why I've sort of 479 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 8: done some other work that I've done with a lot 480 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 8: of players is sort of attaching this like generalized sports 481 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 8: psychology and mental health to the actual function of being 482 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,880 Speaker 8: a baseball player and hitting, because like, there is this 483 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 8: world where, because you get out so often, you can't 484 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 8: rely on hits. 485 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:47,640 Speaker 5: To build confidence, but you also need confidence to build hits. 486 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 8: You live in this weird paradox of confidence where like 487 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 8: you need one without the other. But that's how traditionally, 488 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:55,119 Speaker 8: how you've had to do it. But we can create 489 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,959 Speaker 8: systems in our brain in order to create like cycles 490 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 8: of refrain negativity into positivity in order finding small wins 491 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 8: that you can use to then stack big wins on 492 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 8: top of there's just a number of things we can 493 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 8: do that will keep our mental skills strong so that 494 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 8: we don't impact our mental health, right, Like there's a 495 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 8: direct line between the two, and I think it's an 496 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 8: important distinction. 497 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 5: So I think we're trending in the right direction. 498 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 8: I mean, I've helped thousands of players at this point 499 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 8: since my playing days have been done, and I've gotten 500 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 8: so many, you know, really really good feedback from all 501 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 8: the work that we've been able to do with players 502 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 8: from the big leagues all the way down to the 503 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 8: little leagues, and I think it's a trend that's going 504 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 8: to grow. The hard part is it's just you can't 505 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 8: see it. It's so much easier to focus on our 506 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 8: swing and just think, if I just fix my swing, 507 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:42,719 Speaker 8: I'm gonna become a better hitter. It's like, well, at 508 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 8: the end of the day, if you take a fastball 509 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 8: right down the middle, there's no swing that can help that. 510 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 8: Like you have to have the mental state in order 511 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 8: to like make good swing decisions. But then at the 512 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 8: end of the day you go over four on the day, 513 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:55,239 Speaker 8: how you bounce back the next day is really what 514 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 8: separates great players from good players, and that is really 515 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,239 Speaker 8: how you connect like the mental skill set. I had 516 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 8: to ensure that, like, oh for four doesn't turn into 517 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 8: over fifty and that's where your mental health starts really 518 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 8: taking a hit. 519 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,919 Speaker 6: What about speaking on some of the physical stuff. I 520 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 6: know one of the comments you made on Twitter or Instagram, 521 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:13,959 Speaker 6: I'm not sure you were like, how are you going 522 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 6: to spend over a million dollars on a draft pick 523 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 6: and then seed them peanut butter and jelly out of 524 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 6: the bulk government peanut butter and jelly? 525 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 5: Oh my god. Yeah, I mean it's it's ridiculous. 526 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 8: I mean, this is the sort of disconnect between the 527 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,959 Speaker 8: like the the money you're going to spend on a 528 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 8: player and then what you're going to do to attempt 529 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 8: to like develop that player. I mean yeah, like you know, hopefully, 530 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 8: I think it's improved at this point some I mean 531 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 8: it's been it's been ten plus years since since I 532 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 8: was drafted, so I think we're getting closer to get 533 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 8: better about this. But yeah, you get drafted, you get 534 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 8: sent to minor league spring training, and I literally was 535 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 8: getting Everyone would get a tortilla with one slice of 536 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,919 Speaker 8: Deli ham and a slice of American cheese rolled up 537 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 8: like here you go, it's one hundred and four degrees 538 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:55,360 Speaker 8: in Port Charlotte, Florida. 539 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 5: Good luck. 540 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 8: You know, there's your nutrition for the day, and that'd 541 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 8: be every day. You know, it's like Pemberg jelly and 542 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 8: half the loaf is moldy. And you're like, I lost 543 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 8: twenty two pounds during my rookie ball season. 544 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 5: You're just like, how is this? 545 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 8: Like you're gonna spend two million dollars on a player 546 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 8: in the first round, and then this is the resources 547 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 8: you're gonna put at their disposal. 548 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 5: Like that, Just those two things don't make sense. 549 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 8: And I think that's where the disconnect comes in between, 550 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:21,679 Speaker 8: like player development and just hoping that you're like hoping 551 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 8: that some pick pans out. 552 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 5: To become a big leaguer. And I think so many. 553 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 8: Small market teams who claim that they need the farm 554 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 8: system in order to feed the big leads like, well, 555 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 8: what you're doing in the farm system doesn't. Like your 556 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,360 Speaker 8: actions don't don't signal that's what your intention is, right, 557 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 8: Like your action signal that we are just here to 558 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 8: run the most cost efficient operation in human history is 559 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 8: essentially what your actions show. 560 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 6: All right, Well, this is trade slash free agents slash 561 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 6: prospect season. I guess that's all the time. Do you believe, 562 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 6: because you were one of them, that prospects are way 563 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 6: too hyped? And if you have the ability to cash 564 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 6: it in, And this is where AJ might chime in 565 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,919 Speaker 6: on the conversation, cash it in for a proven big leaguer. 566 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 6: How many times out of one hundred do you cash 567 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 6: that prospect in? 568 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 5: Oh? 569 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,919 Speaker 8: Man, I mean, the prospect has to be like, in 570 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 8: my opinion, it has to be a Paul Skian's like, 571 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 8: no doubt, surefire, there is zero doubt that this person's 572 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 8: going to pan out, because I mean I would even 573 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 8: take I mean, this is going to be maybe a 574 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 8: bit controversial, but like I would take a well established, 575 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,199 Speaker 8: like Triple A player who's been in the Triple A 576 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 8: system for four years and it's just been stuck forever. 577 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,160 Speaker 8: I would take a player like that over some super 578 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 8: hyped nineteen year old prospect for your big league roster. 579 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 8: I think if someone like Christian Walker. I played against 580 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 8: Christian for years stuck in Norfolk in Triple A, and 581 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 8: they had Chris Davis at the time. He wasn't like 582 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 8: Christian couldn't go anywhere. He's sitting there balling out in 583 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 8: Triple A every single day. He wasn't like some huge 584 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:00,360 Speaker 8: name prospect, but like, now you look at it, he's 585 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:03,360 Speaker 8: this awesome big leaguer. But it was obvious at the time. 586 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 8: Everyone could see it was obvious, except maybe Baltimore at 587 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 8: the time couldn't. 588 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 5: See it as obvious. 589 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 8: And so to me, like I find ryann organization, I'm 590 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 8: looking for guys like that, where you look for guys 591 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 8: who are consistently undervalued or have consistently performed at a 592 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:22,440 Speaker 8: big league level but may not have the like hype 593 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:25,159 Speaker 8: and name attached to it, and then use your prospects, 594 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 8: your big hyped names to cash in those pieces. I mean, 595 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 8: I think, I think that's absolutely the play. But the 596 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 8: problem is, like those players are just generally more expensive 597 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 8: and they have less control, and that's really what teams 598 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:37,400 Speaker 8: only care about. It's like, how do we manage budget 599 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,239 Speaker 8: and how do we maintain control for players as long 600 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 8: as humanly possible. It's like they'd rather have a kid 601 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:46,679 Speaker 8: come in at you know, twenty years old and have 602 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:48,679 Speaker 8: six seven years of control over him eye if he's 603 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,720 Speaker 8: going to dramatically underperform, then someone who might be twenty 604 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 8: nine and been in triple A for four years, or 605 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 8: like a big LEAGUEUY who's been fringe up and down 606 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 8: on like the bus back and forth and four a. 607 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 5: You know. So, I mean, that's the way I would 608 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 5: look at it. I just I don't know. Maybe Age 609 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 5: has got a different perspective on it. 610 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 4: No, Listen, I'm all for trading away prospects for guys 611 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 4: that are actually proven big leaguers. So no, I'm all 612 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 4: for this because no problem. I mean, not every prospect 613 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 4: works out. Look at the great trades over the years. 614 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 4: Very few times do they trade away a great player 615 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 4: and then you get the caliber and return because if 616 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 4: they were that good, teams wouldn't trade him in the 617 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,640 Speaker 4: first place. So that's one of the one of the 618 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 4: things that I'm most But I want to go back 619 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:29,399 Speaker 4: to something you said on the mental health side of this, 620 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 4: and what do you say to people, because listen, when 621 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 4: I came up, I had the same thing, and I 622 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 4: was way before I was thirty years ahead of you 623 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 4: in the minor leagues or twenty years ahead of you 624 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 4: in the minor leagues. And listen, it was one of 625 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 4: the ways teams separated mental toughness from the guys that 626 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 4: couldn't hack it because they would say, if you can 627 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 4: survive the bus rides and still get up and play, 628 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 4: if you can figure out a way to keep yourself 629 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 4: and nutrition wasn't a big deal, weightlifting all that wasn't 630 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 4: as big of a deal. But what do you say 631 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 4: to people like that that are older school and say, 632 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 4: you know, this is just how you differential differ, differentiate 633 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 4: between guys that can do it and guys that can't, 634 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:08,719 Speaker 4: instead of just saying, oh, we're just going to give 635 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 4: everybody everything, and you know, oh the best player wins, 636 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 4: but then they get to the big leagues and times 637 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 4: get tough and they can't handle it because they've never 638 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 4: been through a tough time. 639 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I think it's fair. 640 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 8: Right, there's a level like mental just innate mental toughness 641 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 8: that has to exist with someone, Like someone has to 642 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 8: be able to to their core, be able to handle adversity, 643 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 8: no doubt. 644 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 5: I don't know. 645 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 8: I just think like there's there's a difference between being 646 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 8: able to tell some guy who's just like kind of 647 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 8: soft between and like the difference between that and someone 648 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 8: who's like, we're just going to give you bad conditions 649 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 8: to see if you can like stick it out. Like, 650 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 8: I think those are two different things, you know, because 651 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 8: I think you can tell, right, like if a guy 652 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 8: just has bad body language walking around all the time 653 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 8: in the field. 654 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 5: Like you can. 655 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 8: I think it's kind of easy to see the dudes 656 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 8: who kind of have a backbone the guys who don't. 657 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 8: And then the next piece of that is like, all right, 658 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 8: like we can tell that this one particular guy, he's. 659 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 5: A tough guy. 660 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 8: He just you know, mentally, he spirals quickly, and you know, 661 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 8: he game speeds up on him. 662 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 5: He overthinks, YadA YadA. But like he's tough as nails. 663 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 5: We know he's tough. We just need to figure out 664 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:13,240 Speaker 5: how to like direct his brain in the right direction. 665 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 8: Versus a guy who's like moping around and doesn't hustle 666 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 8: things out. And you know if he if he strikes 667 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 8: out on defense, he's going to go make an air 668 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 8: out in the field. 669 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 5: Like, those two things are distinctions. 670 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 8: And I think you're right if it's the ladder, like 671 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 8: that guy's never gonna cut it. I don't care how 672 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 8: talented he is, you can't have him as part of 673 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 8: your organization. 674 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 5: That I totally agree with. 675 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 8: I just think there's a distinction between there's guys with 676 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 8: crazy physical tools and they just their mental game is 677 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 8: pointed in the wrong direction and they focus all their 678 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 8: energy on the wrong things. And then we can provide 679 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,240 Speaker 8: tools to them to get this part out of the 680 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 8: way so they. 681 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 5: Can unleash their physical side. 682 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 8: And that's really what I focus on, is like, how 683 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 8: do we how do we help you get out of 684 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 8: your own way basically, because yeah, I mean, yeah, if 685 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 8: you're if you're soft, you'reself if you're not going to 686 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 8: make it, it's this is we're talking about one percent 687 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 8: of one percent of people trying to make it to 688 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 8: the show. 689 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 5: Like you got to have some dog in you. Absolutely, 690 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 5: I mean, there's just there's no question about that. 691 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 1: So fu Rigie, what do you think And I'm not 692 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: asking you to predict the future just being a member 693 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: of the Tampa Bay Rays when you were what do 694 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 1: you think the likelihood is that their future is there 695 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 1: in Tampa Saint Pete? Do they move what? What do 696 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 1: you get the sense that they might be doing. 697 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 5: I don't know, cautiously optimistic they move into Tampa. 698 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 8: I think the Tampa Greater Tampa base is a fantastic 699 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 8: sports base. 700 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 5: I think the Lightning prove that right. 701 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 8: They've got like an incredible showing every single every single year. 702 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 8: They are good teams, so people show up. Like I 703 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:50,480 Speaker 8: think the Rays have the base, they have fans, it's 704 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 8: just an inconvenient place to get to, Like it's just 705 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 8: hard to get there to the stadium currently. And so 706 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 8: my hope is that I know there's talks about like 707 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 8: Ebore City and some other places that they were potentially 708 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 8: looking at. 709 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 5: I'm still hopeful. 710 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:05,600 Speaker 8: That that that they move into Tampa proper and uh, 711 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 8: you know, give people better access to the stadium. 712 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 5: Because like, Race fans were great. I love Race fans. 713 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 5: They were fantastic. 714 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 8: I like them because being in the Al East, there's 715 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 8: a lot of like chip on their shoulder people. You know, 716 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 8: you get a lot of you got a lot of 717 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 8: Yankees fans in Boston fans who like live down and 718 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:22,280 Speaker 8: then Florida and they want to show up to those 719 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 8: home games. So the Race fans got a lot of 720 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 8: chip on their shoulder. Is like, hey man, like we're 721 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 8: we're very competitive in the Al East, and you know 722 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 8: you're not gonna You're not gonna just show up to 723 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 8: our park and win. 724 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 5: So I'm really hoping they get like. 725 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 8: A good, real stadium to give actual Tampa fans the 726 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 8: ability to show up, because I think they will. 727 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 6: I'm not trying to blow up your spot. But you 728 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 6: used to live in Charlotte. I'm not sure if you 729 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 6: still do anymore. But Charlotte is it a big league city? 730 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,440 Speaker 6: Should they have a big league team? 731 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 8: I hope so, and I think so. 732 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 5: Like I think Charlotte is growing more and more. 733 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 8: I'm running into more people who are like I'm here now, 734 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:03,040 Speaker 8: Like as adults, we are very transient city for a 735 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 8: long time. 736 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 5: We're starting to get people who were born and raised 737 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 5: here and like love it here. 738 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 8: And I think we can absolutely handle it, Like we 739 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:13,480 Speaker 8: just kind of lot of panthers. Just we're like competitive 740 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 8: for the first time in like a decade, and the 741 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 8: playoff game was insane. 742 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:18,719 Speaker 5: It was rowdy. People showed up. They love it. 743 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 8: I think you don't have as much trouble with free agency, 744 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 8: like for in baseball, as you do other cities that 745 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 8: are just like more destination cities, right, like you have 746 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,240 Speaker 8: other sports where people they rather go play in Miami 747 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 8: or La or whatever just because of like the city itself. 748 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 8: I don't think baseball has as much challenge that people 749 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:38,320 Speaker 8: would just go whoever's good willing to pay them the most, 750 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 8: which is how it should be. I think Charlotte can 751 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:43,000 Speaker 8: handle it. I think we've got a good like we 752 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 8: have a good spot for it there. And so I'm 753 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 8: hoping in the next like expansion conversations like Charlotte is 754 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 8: in that conversation. Whether or not like the city agrees 755 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 8: with me, I don't know. 756 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 5: We'll see. But if it's not Charlotte, my hunch is 757 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:56,880 Speaker 5: like Nashville gets it to be honest, all right. 758 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 6: Last one, it's more of a comment on the way out. 759 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,760 Speaker 6: Twenty seventeen, Richie and I played together. Richie was MVP 760 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 6: of the Columbus Clippers. He had thirty dangers eighty nine stakes. 761 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:07,959 Speaker 3: Well. 762 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 6: Twenty seventeen was also the year that Aaron Judge won 763 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:16,240 Speaker 6: Rookie of the Year, had like fifty two homers something 764 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:20,359 Speaker 6: like that. My sons, Richie's locker was right near mine 765 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 6: in the Columbus locker room. My sons would come to 766 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 6: the room, would come to the clubhouse almost every single day. 767 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:30,399 Speaker 6: They that they were good kids, so they were there 768 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:32,879 Speaker 6: and they Richie was like he was like a kid 769 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,759 Speaker 6: to them, so like they played Clash of Clans. They like, 770 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 6: they just did everything in the clubhouse. I get traded 771 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 6: to the Yankees. My locker is the same distance away 772 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:47,800 Speaker 6: from Aaron Judge's locker. They thought Richie Shaefer was Aaron Judge. 773 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,800 Speaker 6: They were just like Richie Schaefer hit all these home runs. 774 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:54,720 Speaker 6: Aaron Judge hit all these home runs. They're the same. 775 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 6: They're both really nice to us. They both liked playing 776 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 6: games on their phone, and they're both like nice guys 777 00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 6: that hit thingers. So Richie Schaefer and Aaron Judge same same. 778 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:10,120 Speaker 8: Yeah, I'd be pretty much. I don't see anything different 779 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:11,960 Speaker 8: between me and Judge is nothing. I don't see a 780 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 8: single difference. 781 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:20,480 Speaker 5: So spawn on our mind perfect. I love it. 782 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:22,960 Speaker 1: It's a great story. Maybe maybe the bank accounts a 783 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 1: little bit different. Maybe the height, I don't know. I 784 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,839 Speaker 1: don't know how, but you are four. 785 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:30,760 Speaker 5: But he does make me feel very small, Yes. 786 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,680 Speaker 1: Sick four. That's nothing to be ashamed of. I'll tell 787 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:35,800 Speaker 1: you what. You're both good guys that I can attest to. 788 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for coming on. I loved hearing 789 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:41,320 Speaker 1: the insight that you had best of luck going forward. 790 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 1: We appreciate it, and I'm sure that certainly e K 791 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:45,880 Speaker 1: will talk to you soon, if not the rest of us. 792 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:48,520 Speaker 1: Thanks Richie absolutely, they go very much. 793 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:49,120 Speaker 5: Take care.