1 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to fair territory. I want to thank everyone 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: for giving us a couple of days to get things 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: sorted out. We wanted to do a True World Series 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: preview show, and we are going to do it. And 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 1: believe me, I am taking this show seriously because there 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: is an important job opening in Major League Baseball media. Today. 7 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: We will get to that. I think you know what 8 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: I'm talking about. I'm talking about the dog's job, Christopher 9 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: maddog Russo it's opening up, man, serious exam. Maybe I'll 10 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: go back to the network work with Alana Rizzo. Who knows. 11 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: We're gonna have a lot of fun today. This is 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: a lot of fun. What is going on in baseball 13 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 1: right now? I'm sure some Phillies fans are rather upset. 14 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: I get it. I'm sure some Astros fans are rather upset. 15 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: I get it. Dodgers fans, all the other teams that 16 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: were upset. Yes, it's frustrating, but it's quite an interesting 17 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 1: turn of events, is it not. And I'm gonna open 18 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: today by beginning with a litany of complaints that we 19 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: hear from fans about baseball. Oh, just about every year. 20 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: I'm sick and tired of seeing the same old teams 21 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. I don't want to be force fed 22 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 1: the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Red Sox, the Astros. I'm 23 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: not watching this World Series. I'm not watching baseball. The 24 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: lower payroll teams stand no chance. Well, ladies and gentlemen, 25 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: this World Series is for you. The Texas Rangers have 26 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: not been to the World Series since back to back 27 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: appearances in twenty ten and eleven. They didn't win either 28 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: of them. They've never won a World Series in their 29 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 1: franchise history. The Diamondbacks have not been to the World 30 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: Series since beating the Yankees in a seven game classic 31 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: in two thousand and one. So I would say we 32 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: have some different teams here now. Yes, the Rangers did 33 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: spend big, more than eight hundred million dollars in free 34 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: agents the last two years. They added schres Er at 35 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: the deadline. They have gone for it sixth highest opening 36 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: day payroll, it got even higher. The Diamondbacks not a 37 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: big money team, twenty fourth in opening a roll. This 38 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: is who they are. They've been oddly for a team 39 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: that plays in Phoenix, one of the ten largest cities 40 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: in the country, a low revenue team in regard to 41 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: major League Baseball. So let's take a look at some 42 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: things that are percolating around this series, some reasons why 43 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: this series is so unusual, and it's unusual in many ways. 44 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: But let's start here by looking at just where this 45 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: is in terms of combined winning percentage for World Series teams. 46 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: Look at it. This is the lowest combined winning percentage 47 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: for World Series teams in the sports history. Five point 48 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,959 Speaker 1: thirty seven Rangers and Diamondbacks. Next, five forty five, the 49 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy three A's Mets World Series, five forty six, 50 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: the twenty fourteen Royals Giants World Series. And there are 51 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: some other teams as well in that mix. Ninety seven 52 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: Marlins and Indians five point fifty one, two thousand and 53 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: six Tigers, Cardals, on and on and on. Nineteen eighty 54 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: seven Cardinals and Twins. That was my first World Series. 55 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: It went seven five point fifty six. Now, just because 56 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 1: these teams haven't necessarily won doesn't mean it would make 57 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: for a bad World Series. It could be highly competitive. Now, 58 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: let's keep going here. They twenty three Diamondbacks are just 59 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: the third team in Major League history to make the 60 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: World Series with eighty four wins or less. Yes, that 61 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: is true. Nineteen seventy three Mets eighty two wins, lost 62 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: the World Series. Two thousand and six Cardinals, I don't 63 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,399 Speaker 1: remember if people were whining about them, but I'm sure 64 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: they were eighty three wins won the World Series. And 65 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: here are the twenty twenty three Diamondbacks with eighty four wins. 66 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: Another remarkable thing about this postseason, you'll see it right here, 67 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: is how unsuccessful the home teams have been the road teams. 68 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: The lower seeds are now twenty two and fourteen in 69 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: this postseason six to eleven winning percentage. That's the second 70 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: highest entering the World Series since the playoffs expanded with 71 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: the wildcard era, behind twenty ten after twenty ten, so 72 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: this is the second highest. Okay, this is what you get. 73 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: You expand the playoffs, you get some teams that are 74 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: less deserving, that might not have been as dominant in 75 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: the regular season. The Rangers were a good team in 76 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: the regular season, no question, and they lost the AL 77 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: West title only on the last day. The Diamondbacks were 78 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: an okay team, an interesting team, a surprising team, a 79 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: team that capitalized on the new rules, but they weren't 80 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 1: anyone's idea of a powerhouse or World Series contender. But again, 81 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: you expand the playoffs, you invite more people to the party, 82 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: you run the risk of a guest or two showing 83 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: up drunk, and that seems to be what has happened here. 84 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: But I'm here to tell you this is a good thing. 85 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: It's good for the sport. Then you might say, and 86 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: I'm sure you will say, Ken, you're shilling for Fox. 87 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: You're just trying to get people to watch the broadcast. Now, 88 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: I'm not a shill. During the Rangers Astros series, I 89 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: had people who root for the Rangers telling me I 90 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 1: was an Astro shill, which was rather interesting now considering 91 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: that most Astros fans can't stand me because of a 92 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: certain story that the Athletic broke in two thousand and 93 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: nineteen about a certain team that stole signs illegally. Anyway, 94 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: that's the either hero or there. When it comes to 95 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: the concept of shilling, and it comes to the concept 96 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: of me shilling for Fox, yes, guilty, I am shilling 97 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: for Fox. I do want people to watch the games. 98 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: But you know what really I'm doing, I'm shilling for baseball. 99 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: Because if you are a fan of baseball, a true 100 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: fan of baseball, you are going to want to watch 101 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: this series. This is a series that I'm sure will 102 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: be getting low ratings because fans in the Eastern city 103 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: I don't care, and maybe fans in the West are 104 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: saying Diamondbacks they don't really qualify as a West Coast team. 105 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: I'd rather see the Dodgers or the Giants or any 106 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: of those teams. Well, you can't have it both ways, folks. 107 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: You can't say all the time, man, this sport is 108 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: just tilted toward the big market teams. That's all where 109 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: ever shown. That's all we have, and I don't want 110 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 1: to see it anymore. Well, here are two different teams, 111 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: and two interesting teams, and two teams with star power. 112 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: The Rangers for sure got a Doulas Garcia and Corey Seeger, 113 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: Max Scherzer, Nathan Valdi, Jordan Montgomery. You've got Marcus Simeon 114 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: playing in his first World Series, one of the great 115 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: veterans in our game. For the Diamondbacks, Catel Marte Corbyn Carroll, 116 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 1: Zach Gallen, Merrill, Kelly Evan Longoria playing in his first 117 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: World Series since two thousand and eight, his first in 118 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: fifteen years now. As my friend Jason Stark said a 119 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago. He told me this while we 120 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 1: were discussing an article I was writing. Jason said, if 121 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: you don't want upsets, if you just want the two 122 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: best regular season teams in the World Series every year, 123 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: then don't have playoffs. But we have playoffs. And no 124 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: one should be apologizing for this matchup. No one in Baseball, 125 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: no one at Fox, no one on either team. These 126 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: are the two teams that got here. They are the 127 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: best teams in October, doesn't mean they were the best 128 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: teams in the regular season. And they earn this. So 129 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: if you're a true fan of the game, someone who 130 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: truly relishes the sport, should be a lot of fun. Okay, 131 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: a couple of other things here I want to get 132 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: to in this first block. The Astros. People have been 133 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: debating whether they were a dynasty or not. I'm not 134 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: going to get into that. I don't care. They've had 135 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: a great run. Seven straight appearances in the ALCS. It's 136 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: been amazing. Now, if you want to say good riddance 137 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: to a team that stole signs illegally in twenty seventeen 138 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: and eighteen, that's fine. I get it. A lot of 139 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: people are still upset by that, and should be. It 140 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: was one of the worst scandals in Major League history, 141 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: maybe the worst in some ways. But keep in mind, 142 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: the last four seasons, the entirety of the Dusty Baker era, 143 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: were played under stricter rules regarding electronic signs stealing. Couldn't 144 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: be doing it the last four years. I guess you 145 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: could be doing it, but I seriously doubt they were 146 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: doing it, and yet the Astros remained a powerhouse. Now, 147 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: the question coming out of this is what's next for 148 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: the Astros. As they said on the broadcast in Game seven, 149 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: They're at an interesting crossroads. Dusty Baker, as britt Jeroli 150 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: and Chandler reported in The Athletic, is not coming back. 151 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: They've got Altuve and Bregman, two guys entering the final 152 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: years of their current contracts. They'll be eligible for free 153 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: agency at the end of next season. They're both represented 154 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: by Scott Borris, Scott Bors' clients. As I've said many 155 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: times before, and as you guys know, do not generally 156 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: sign extensions before free agency, not unless they get full 157 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: market value. And that's difficult to do, and you don't 158 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: know what the market is exactly. They've got other players too, 159 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 1: with two years left. Kyle Tucker fromer Valdez each has 160 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: one year remaining beyond twenty four. They're signed through twenty five. 161 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 1: Verlander could be next year and the year after as well. 162 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: They've got a Lance mccullor's coming back next year. They 163 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: should be good. Will they be as good? Do they 164 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,719 Speaker 1: face the potential of losing one of their true superstars 165 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: in the next year or two? Sure they do so. 166 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: It's going to be interesting to see how the Astros 167 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 1: come out at this. They don't have a great farm system. 168 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: They created two of their best prospects for Verlander. Dana 169 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: Brown is a guy as the GM and a former 170 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: scouting director who might be able to rebuild quickly through 171 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: the draft. But again, quite an interesting set of circumstances 172 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: facing the Astros. The Phillies are in the same boat. 173 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: Nola is a free agent. They've got some other things 174 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: they have to look at as well. But they are 175 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: more set and more solid, it would seem to me, 176 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: for the years ahead. All right. Finally, there's been a 177 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: ton of news this week about general managers managers movement 178 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: all over the place. We have the Red Sox set 179 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 1: to announce the hiring of Craig Breslow as their chief 180 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: baseball officer. It's an interesting hire for sure. Craig is 181 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: a Yale graduate who's a major league reliever for twin years, 182 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: joined the Cub's front office only in twenty eighteen, right 183 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: off the playing field, was the director of Pitching, then 184 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: the assistant general manager, a guy who was considered really 185 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: bright for a team that above all needs to fix 186 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: its pitching. And that is Craig Breslo's principal mission now 187 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: that he's taking over the Red Sox. Not an experienced 188 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: guy in terms of being a general manager obviously, or 189 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 1: president of Baseball Operations, chief baseball officer or whatever you 190 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: want to call, but the Red Sox essentially want him 191 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: to be there. Chris Young. Chris Young, the Rangers GM 192 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: was also an ivy leaguer, also a former major league pitcher, 193 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,439 Speaker 1: and has done great things with the Texas Rangers. Has 194 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: been really aggressive and yes, with big resources, fixing the 195 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 1: Texas situation. Now, as for the managers, this might surprise you. 196 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: Actually surprised me this morning when I kind of made 197 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: this list. There are still openings with in no particular order, 198 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: the Guardians, the that's the Angels, the Brewers, potentially if 199 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: Craig Counsel doesn't return, the Astros now that Dusty Baker 200 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: will be stepping down, and of course now the San 201 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: Diego Padres, Yes, the Padres now. On September nineteenth, Dennis 202 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: Lynne and I of The Athletic wrote a story, a 203 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: long story headline the Padres disastrous season reveals shaky foundation 204 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: and institutional failure. In that story, we had an unnamed 205 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: player using the words institutional failure. We had a former 206 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: staffer saying the environment was the most toxic, and we 207 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: had another unnamed player saying the relationship between manager Bob 208 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: Melvin and general manager AJ Preller was unfixable, unfixable. And 209 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: then at the end of the season, AJ Preller, the 210 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: general manager, held a news conference, and at that news 211 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: conference he said some pretty interesting things, and he made 212 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: reference to what had been written. Let's go to some 213 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 1: of these quotes here. Here's the first one. Bob is 214 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: our manager, and he's going to be our manager going forward. 215 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: I think both he and I A lot's been said 216 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: obviously in the last few weeks, but both he and 217 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: I are very excited about the challenge of getting this team, 218 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: you know, back to the postseason next year. That was 219 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: one quote from aj Preller. Here's another. I think the 220 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: anonymous quotes and the unnamed sources, I just don't. We 221 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: don't give any credibility to that. Okay, aj Preller, You 222 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 1: just let your manager go to the Giants, a division rival, 223 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,839 Speaker 1: because your relationship with him was guess what, unfixable. You 224 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 1: let him go without compensation after two seasons, the first 225 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: of which ended with an appearance in the NLCS. And 226 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: now you're going to be hiring your sixth manager in 227 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: ten years. Sixth that includes an interim. Pat Murphy, who 228 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: is basically the guy who replaced Bud Black in June 229 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: of two thousand and fifteen managed the rest of the year. 230 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: Six managers in ten years. I will tell you, folks, 231 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: most gms don't get nearly that many. So enough of 232 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: the come Baya in San Diego. It was not Cumbaya 233 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: in San Diego. And you know what that story we wrote, 234 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: Dennis and I we should have gone even stronger. Time 235 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: out for the inside dish. This is the segment in 236 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: which I go inside a story I've written, or a 237 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: trend in the game, or refer to something that has 238 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: been ongoing for a couple of years now, and you'll 239 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: see it today in The Athletic I wrote a column 240 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: in which I started by saying, I'm not going to 241 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: take credit for the Arizona Diamondbacks going to the World Series, 242 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:52,199 Speaker 1: but I sort of should. Now obviously, I'm gonna give 243 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 1: you a warning right now. This entire segment, like the 244 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: entire column, is tongue in cheek. It's fun. It should 245 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: not be taken literally. You should all calm down. I've 246 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: already seen some comments about the calm people saying, can 247 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 1: stop writing about yourself, Give me a break. We're just 248 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: having fun here. Now, here's what we're talking about. So 249 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: a couple of times in the last few years, actually 250 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: at least twice, and it might have even been more, 251 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: I wrote favorably about the Diamondbacks in the early part 252 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: of the season. For whatever reason, in nineteen and twenty 253 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: one in particular, I was kind of interested by what 254 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: they were doing. I thought they might be good. Wrote 255 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: favorably about them, and that began a running gag with 256 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: their general manager, Mike Hazen, who would basically after that 257 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: plead with me mockingly not to ever write about them again, 258 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: because each of those seasons did not end entirely well. 259 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: In twenty nineteen, when I praised the Diamondbacks for not 260 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: tanking and for hanging in there, they had a good season. 261 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: They finished eighty five and seventy seven. Actually that was 262 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: the year they drafted Corbin Carrol nine of the first 263 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: ninety three picks. Goodyear overall, but it was not what 264 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: I thought it might be, and Mike Kaysen was basically saying, hey, 265 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: you could have calmed down with the praise. Twenty twenty one, 266 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: on the other hand, that was not so good. Twenty 267 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: twenty one. I wrote in April that the Diamondbacks could 268 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: emerge as a surprise contender. Well, lots of things could 269 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: happen in this world. That was one that didn't. That 270 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: was a case of an incredibly poor analysis. The Diamondbacks 271 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: did not emerge as a surprise contender. The Diamondbacks, you 272 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: might have heard, lost one hundred and ten games. So 273 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: Hayesen at this point was like, stop it, stop it 274 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: just don't write about us ever again. And on June 275 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: first of this year, when the Diamondbacks were thirty three 276 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: and twenty three or one half game behind the Dodgers 277 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: in the Anna West, I said Hayes in a text. 278 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: I said, hey, warning, it's getting to the point where 279 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: it would be professionally irresponsible not to write about your 280 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: club now. Hayzan, obviously sensing that I was plotting something here, 281 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: maybe an in depth look at the Diamondbacks turnaround, wrote back, 282 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: Please don't the Reds are the hot team. Okay, so 283 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: we go forward. Obviously the Diamondbacks stayed at least in contention. 284 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: They had their ups and downs like any other team, 285 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: and for the most part I stayed away. A couple 286 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: of notes here and there. Jason Stark wrote a really 287 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: good story early in June. I believe it was. It 288 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: was about the Diamondbacks, the Reds, and the Orioles, three 289 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: surprise teams capitalizing on the new rules. So again I 290 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: didn't really see fit to write anything. Come September I 291 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: did combine on a feature with Will Salmon of The 292 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: Athletic about Tommy Fam Diamondbacks had acquired him at the deadline. 293 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: I don't even know that I would count that as 294 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: writing about the Diamondbacks. It was about Fam. So around 295 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: that time I was talking with my Kaysen on the phone, 296 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: probably for that article. I can't remember exactly the circumstances, 297 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: and I joked with him, Hey, man, you owe me 298 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: a public apology. You discourage me from writing about your team. 299 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: You basically wouldn't let me write about your team, told 300 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: me you wouldn't cooperate with me writing about your team. 301 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: And here you are on the verge of going to 302 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 1: the playoffs and you need to apologize. We were kidding around. 303 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: The whole thing was kidding around, obviously, So basically Hayzan 304 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: and I joked about it and we agreed that he 305 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: would not make a public apology, and then I sent 306 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: him a text maybe a week later. They were doing well, 307 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: and I said, you know what, that public apology might 308 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: be in order. Well. In any case, I didn't really 309 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: write about the Diamondbacks this year much. I can't take 310 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: credit for this. They deserve all the credit for this. 311 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: We're kidding around here. What they have done is remarkable. 312 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,959 Speaker 1: These are the teams they have beaten in sequence in 313 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: this National League playoffs so far. The Brewers National League 314 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: Central Champions, the Dodgers National League westchainchampions, the longtime nemesis 315 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: of the Diamondbacks, and every other team in the West, 316 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: and now the Phillies, the team with the unbeatable crowd, 317 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: the team that could not be toppled at home. Diamondbacks 318 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: went into Philadelphia down three games to two, and they 319 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: somehow won the final two games. They've got a lot 320 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: of spunk this team, and they've got a lot of 321 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: talent too, and they've got more coming. One of the 322 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: better farm systems going. So I look forward to seeing 323 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 1: the Diamondbacks not only the World Series, of course, but 324 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: going forward over the years. And as I ended my 325 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: column today, I couldn't have stopped them if I tried. 326 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: Time Now for Dude and Dork of the Week, some 327 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: pretty obvious choices this week, if you ask me, I'm 328 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,640 Speaker 1: gonna go with the two MVPs of each league championship series. 329 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 1: Of course, I'm talking about in the American League, Adulice Garcia. 330 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: What he did in that series was absolutely remarkable. Fifteen 331 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: RBIs that's the most ever in a postseason series. We 332 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: talk all the time about how expanded playoffs kind of 333 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: skew the statistics, how you can't use really counting numbers 334 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,360 Speaker 1: because there are more games and players can compile more numbers. Well, 335 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: a seven game series is a seven game series. We've 336 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: had them forever in this sport, going back to the 337 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 1: olden days, and Adolice Garcia had the most RBIs ever 338 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: in a postseason series fifteen. Thirteen of those RBIs were 339 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: in the final four games of the series. Nine were 340 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: in the final two games. Think about all this and 341 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 1: think about the circumstances. Game five of the ALCS, you 342 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: know what happened? Three run shot, go ahead shot by Garcia. 343 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: Series tied to too he gets drilled by Brian Obred. 344 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: He turns to Martin Aldanado. The bench is clear they emptied. 345 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: The Bullpens come running in as they always do, and 346 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 1: Adoles Garcia. From that point on becomes villain number one 347 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: in Houston, where this series returned to for game six 348 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: and seven. What happens in Game six? He strikes out 349 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: four times in his first four at bats, and then 350 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: with the booze growing progressively louder all night, he hits 351 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: a grand Slam and that set the stage for Game seven, 352 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: four for five, two homers, five RBIs, MVP. I wrote 353 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: it this guy now must be considered a superstar in 354 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: the sport, and I got some comments back at a 355 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 1: twenty four OPS only ranked twenty. Stop it, guys, stop it. 356 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: You don't have to be in the top ten ops 357 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: to be a superstar. And yes, he's a flawed player 358 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: in some ways, even though he's a brilliant five tool talent. 359 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: Adulis Garcia due to the week superstar in the sport 360 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: in the NLCS kaateel Marte kind of a similar story 361 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: like Garcia, He's thirty years old. Garcia made two All 362 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: Star teams in his career. Katel Marte has only made one. 363 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,199 Speaker 1: It's been a really good player for a long time, 364 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: but just one time All Star. Well what has he 365 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:02,239 Speaker 1: done in winning the National League Championship Series MVP? He 366 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: is a guy who has a sixteen game hitting streak 367 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: to start his postseason career, and of course that spans 368 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 1: before this series as well, but here it is. Sarah 369 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,119 Speaker 1: Langs gives us this sixteen game hitting streak, tied for 370 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: the fourth longest in postseason history by Manny Ramirez two 371 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: thousand and three and four seventeen game hitting streak Derek 372 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:27,880 Speaker 1: Jeter also seventeen games, and Hank Bauer nineteen fifty six 373 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: to fifty eight. So if katel Marte gets hits in 374 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: the first two games of the World Series. He'll have 375 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: the longest hitting streak in the postseason ever. It will 376 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: be eighteen games at that point. That's an amazing accomplishment. 377 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 1: And really it's good to see him get his due 378 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: because guys do get lost a little bit in Arizona. 379 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: He's had a little bit of inconsistency. To tell. Marte's 380 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: bounced between second base and center field. But he's their 381 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: guy in many ways, and he's a guy they acquired. 382 00:21:57,359 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: You go back to twenty sixteen, they acquired him from 383 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: Seattle with Taiwan Walker. That was the trade for Mitch Hanneger, 384 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 1: Jean Segura, and Sack Curtis. I would say now we 385 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: can safely say it's a win for Arizona. It's a 386 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: good trade for both actually, But could tell Marte great performance. 387 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: They needed some veteran stability with this team. Now Evan 388 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: Longoria gets a lot of credit for that, but could 389 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: tell Marte has been around two and he had a 390 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: great series. NLCSMVP Dude of the Week along with Odolis Garcia. 391 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 1: Now the dork of the Week. Ooh, I've been waiting 392 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: for this. We're gonna rename this award just for one 393 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: week only in honor of our honoree. We're gonna call 394 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: this the Dog of the Week, because who other than 395 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: Christopher mad Dog Russo could be the dork of the week. 396 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,199 Speaker 1: There's no other choice. This might be the most obvious 397 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,679 Speaker 1: choice we've ever had. And it's the first time that 398 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: I can recall. I'm giving this award to a friend 399 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 1: of mine. I love the dog. You still work with 400 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: them in MLB Network. We had a blast together. But 401 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 1: let's take a look at what got this all started. 402 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: Christopher mad Dog Russo on his Serious XM radio show. 403 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 2: I've been wrong in Arizona from day one. I a 404 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 2: I'm stunning to be Milwaukee. I thought they get swept 405 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 2: by the Dodgers. I never thought they'd even go back 406 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 2: to Prey for a game six. I'll try it one 407 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 2: more time. I would not be stunned. If they won tonight, 408 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 2: I would be florid florid. And I'll say this right now, 409 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 2: just I'll say this right now, and Bob Raceman write 410 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 2: it down. If they win the next two days, they 411 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 2: win the next two games and win this series in 412 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 2: seven games. If they win, I will I will retire 413 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 2: on the spot. 414 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:48,879 Speaker 1: Well, I believe there's an opening. There is an opening 415 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: right now this morning on Serious Except now. Bob Raceman, 416 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,160 Speaker 1: who the dog referred to there. He's the New York 417 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: Daily News, longtime media writer. He's held a dog he 418 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: accountable over the years, basically dog. He challenged him, write 419 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: it down, challenged everyone, mostly challenged the Diamondbacks, who had 420 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: a good deal of fun with this, as they should, 421 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: starting with before Game seven last night, when Tory Lavello 422 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,199 Speaker 1: met the media. But I would love to see him 423 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 1: quit if we wanted, you know what I mean. 424 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,719 Speaker 3: But there's nothing there's nothing better than a wise guy 425 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 3: in New Yorker saying something to having to chomp on 426 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 3: those words. So that's how I'm processing it, and it'll 427 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 3: be great. He's a friend of mine. I love Matt Dog, 428 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 3: and I know that he's gonna end up hearing this. 429 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 3: And I didn't want to really get into this, but 430 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:36,480 Speaker 3: I did. 431 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 1: Tory Levello, a manager who said at the start of 432 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 1: the series or sometime during the series, I'm keeping receipts 433 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 1: of all the people who have doubted us. Well, the 434 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: dog was the lead doubter, as it turned out, and 435 00:24:49,160 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: the clubhouse last night included this interesting scene. Does it 436 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 1: get any better than that? The dog has been humiliated. 437 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: He went on Howard's Throne this morning, talked about what 438 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: he might have to do rather than retire, because he's 439 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,160 Speaker 1: not going to retire, much as everyone might wish for it. 440 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: Alana Rizzo was not taking me over high heat on 441 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: her own. Now the dog, he will be with us, 442 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 1: And really the only proper way for this to end 443 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 1: would be Game three of the World Series, Doggie strolling 444 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 1: out to the mound and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. 445 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: He's the inspiration, He's the Diamondbacks guy, their mascot, so 446 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: to speak. So if it was me that was on 447 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: Christopher Russo's show today and I had made this prediction 448 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: that the Diamondbacks would lose and I would retire on 449 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: the spot, you know what the dog he would say, Kenny, Kenny, 450 00:25:55,960 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: bad job, just a bad job there. Well, Doggie, you 451 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,360 Speaker 1: gotta wear this one. But you'll wear it with pride, 452 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: You'll wear it with your usual good humor. But you're 453 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: gonna get this award. Christopherusso Dog of the Week, Dark 454 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: of the Week, Give your playoff game phase your best look. 455 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,879 Speaker 1: With our new sponsor Shady Rays Shady Raise an independent 456 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: sunglasses company that is a world class product, just as 457 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: good as all the expensive sunglasses that are out there. 458 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 1: They have durable frames and extremely clear optics for outdoor adventures, 459 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: and what really separates them is the best protection plan 460 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 1: in the industry. If you lose or break your pair 461 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,440 Speaker 1: on day one, even on day one, they will send 462 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: you a brand new pair, no questions asked. 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Time now for grill 472 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: and can Let's get to your questions first from Kyle Davis. 473 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: Kyle asks is it fair for fans outside of Houston 474 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,639 Speaker 1: to hate the Astros for what happened in the past, 475 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: Because I do, Kyle, I like the question. I try 476 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:26,920 Speaker 1: try not to ever tell fans what they should or 477 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 1: shouldn't think. Fans have every right to think what they 478 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: want to think. That's kind of the beauty of being 479 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: a fan. You're entitled to your own opinion, irrational, rational, 480 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 1: whatever the case might be. Obviously, a lot of fans 481 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: do hate the Astros for what happened in twenty seventeen 482 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 1: and eighteen, and yes it was both years, by the way, 483 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: to all the Astros fans who were yelling at me 484 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: for saying eighteen, it's fair to hate them because they 485 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: effectively stole a World Series in seventeen. And maybe you're 486 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 1: a Yankee fan or a Dodger fan and you feel 487 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,200 Speaker 1: your team with slighted. Now it's come to life in 488 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: later years, those teams are doing some funky things too. 489 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: Read Evandrelic's book Winning Fixes Everything. But no team had 490 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: a system of electronic signce stealing, illegal electronic signce stealing 491 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: as elaborate as the Astros. This is the thing Astros 492 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 1: fans sometimes forget. Nobody was banging the garbage cans but 493 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:21,200 Speaker 1: the Astros. So is it fair to hate them, Sure, 494 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 1: if you want to hate them, hate them, But what 495 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: I have said and The reason why other fans are 496 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,640 Speaker 1: calling me an apologist for the Astros is you have 497 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 1: to have everything in context. They were not found to 498 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:36,639 Speaker 1: cheat in twenty nineteen, twenty twenty, new rules come into effect, 499 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 1: much stricter rules. They've kept winning. So you want to 500 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 1: hate them for those years, the years that they cheated, sure, 501 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: but you have to respect what they've done since then. 502 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 1: As I said, in the Dusty Baker era, they've lost 503 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 1: a lot of the players from those teams, and yet 504 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: they've kept it going. It's been an amazing run, all right. 505 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 1: Now to the next question from Mills. Mills asked, Hey, Ken, 506 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 1: why the teams hire both President of Baseball Operations and 507 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: a GM. If the President Baseball Operations makes all the 508 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 1: decisions anyway, why would someone want to be their middleman? 509 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 1: And why spend money on another employee. This is a 510 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: good question, Mills, and I know a lot of fans 511 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:18,280 Speaker 1: get confused by this. First of all, what effectively is 512 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: happening is that the old system is still in place, 513 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: GM assistant GM, but now they call it President of 514 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: Baseball Operations fancier title, more money, and they call it 515 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: a GM fancier title that assistant GM more money in 516 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: part at times because they want to keep guys from leading, 517 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: they want to give them promotions. That's one reason. The 518 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:42,960 Speaker 1: other thing that we should keep in mind here is 519 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: that front office responsibilities have expanded over the years that 520 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: you need more than one person to effectively head an organization. So, yes, 521 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 1: the POBO as you call it, the president of Baseball operations, 522 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: that is the main person, the main decision maker for 523 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 1: an organization. But a GM has an influential and important 524 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 1: role if he's working under one of those guys and 525 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: with all this job entails, and it's not simply making 526 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: trades and picking guys off the waiver wire. It's running 527 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: an organization, the farm system, the scouting department, the international scouting, 528 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 1: all the different things. It's a two person job. Final question, 529 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: this one comes from Matt Anderson. Who will be the 530 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 1: next manager of the Mets. Matt, a few of US 531 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: writers were talking about this at the ALCS and it 532 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 1: was an interesting conversation. Craig Counsel is the obvious choice. 533 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: He is with the Brewers or his contract it's expiring 534 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: with the Brewers. He could return to the Brewers, but 535 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 1: he also could go to the Mets and work for 536 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:51,720 Speaker 1: David Stearns, it would seem that that would be the 537 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: thing he would want to do if what he's looking 538 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: for here is a great financial package. And Council, from 539 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: everything I've heard, does want to establish a standard for managers, 540 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:06,240 Speaker 1: at least raise the bar managers are underpaid. Counsel was 541 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 1: a guy who was very active in the Players' Union 542 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 1: as a player, and he is conscious and mindful of 543 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 1: trying to improve the lot of all managers. So that's 544 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 1: one thing. Does he want to go to the Mets? 545 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 1: Does David Stearns want to hire him? And that is 546 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: perhaps an equally important question, because Stearns is coming into 547 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 1: the Mets and he might have his own ideas about 548 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: what he wants to do. He might want a manager 549 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:35,960 Speaker 1: who is less experienced than Counsel, a manager who would 550 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: be frankly easier to control share his collaborative vision. I'm 551 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: not saying David Stearns is that kind of guy, but 552 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: all presidents of baseball operations in GMS now want a 553 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: manager who's going to be on the same page, don't 554 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:54,480 Speaker 1: necessarily want an independent thinker and Counsel and Stearns seemingly 555 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 1: had a good relationship with Milwaukee. I don't know that 556 00:31:56,280 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: it would be any problem. But Council comes in. Council Man, 557 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 1: he's a big guy, big time manager. If you hire 558 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: a lesser person, someone who is not established, you can 559 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: yes exert more control, have him implement your vision, perhaps 560 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:17,280 Speaker 1: in a stronger way. The danger in that strategy is 561 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 1: if you hire in someone. The danger in that strategy 562 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 1: if you hire someone inexperienced, is you're hiring an inexperienced 563 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:26,320 Speaker 1: person to run the New York Mets. I don't know 564 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 1: that that's a good idea. So if I had to bet, 565 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 1: I would still bet Counsel. But I don't know that 566 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: I would be surprised if David Stearns went in a 567 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 1: completely other direction. Looking ahead, it's the World Series on Fox, folks. 568 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 1: I'll be traveling to Texas on Wednesday night. Have actually 569 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 1: been home for less than twenty four hours. To Texas, 570 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: then to Arizona, and maybe back to Texas again. I 571 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:52,760 Speaker 1: am looking forward to this World Series. I'm not just 572 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 1: shilling as I said in the first segment. I am 573 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:57,920 Speaker 1: looking forward to seeing these two teams play. Arizona is 574 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,240 Speaker 1: a fun team. Texas has gotten an incredibly deep lineup. 575 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: Max schurz Er, Jordan Montgomery, Nathan Valdi, a lot of 576 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:08,560 Speaker 1: interesting players on both clubs. We're gonna be talking about 577 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 1: them on Fox. We'll be interviewing them on Fox. I 578 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: might even go into the dugout, I know it's sacrilegious, 579 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: and maybe interview a player after he hits a home 580 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 1: run or something like that. So that's what we're looking 581 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 1: forward to this week. One more thing I want to 582 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 1: bring to your attention a cool event that is coming up. 583 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 1: It's in honor of someone, in memory of someone who 584 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:32,960 Speaker 1: was near and dear to me, near and dear to 585 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 1: a lot of us. Someone who is, in my case, 586 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 1: a professional inspiration, someone I came up with in my 587 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: early years, we kind of the same age, someone who 588 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: I missed dearly. It's this guy. It's Pedro Gomez. This 589 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 1: is the book that we put together. Steve Ketman, his 590 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 1: best friend, put it together. A lot of us contributed 591 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:56,000 Speaker 1: to it about our memories of Pedro, and he was 592 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 1: just a special person. He was not only that, he 593 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: was an absolutely fearless reporter and that's what I draw 594 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: inspiration from him to this day from So this event, 595 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:11,840 Speaker 1: it's the Pedro Gomez Golf tournament and auction to benefit 596 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 1: the Pedro Gomez Foundation. They're hosting a golf tournament and 597 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:19,560 Speaker 1: auction on December second at the Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona. 598 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:21,879 Speaker 1: If you sign up for the golf tournament, you get 599 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:25,759 Speaker 1: breakfast golf, a drink ticket, range balls, golf balls, and 600 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 1: a golf shirt or a windbreaker or a yetti. There 601 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 1: will be live music, cocktails and awards afterwards along with 602 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:35,319 Speaker 1: the auction, and all proceeds go to student scholarships. You 603 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 1: can use the QR code on the screen for information 604 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 1: and to sign up. I attended the Pedro Gomez Foundation event. 605 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 1: I believe it was last January. It wasn't a golf tournament, 606 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:47,279 Speaker 1: which is an event, and it was quite something and 607 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:52,120 Speaker 1: they're doing some really good work to help young journalists 608 00:34:52,160 --> 00:34:54,520 Speaker 1: come along, people who want to be like Pedro. So 609 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 1: I encourage everyone to support the foundation. Maybe you go 610 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 1: to the golf tournament if you can. Was one of 611 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 1: a kind and we need to keep his memory alive. 612 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 1: All right. Thanks to everyone for listening, for watching. You 613 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 1: know where to subscribe to us, YouTube, Spotify, Apple, find 614 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: us wherever you get your podcasts, and I can assure 615 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:16,360 Speaker 1: you we are going back to our regular schedule, or 616 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:18,960 Speaker 1: at least we're gonna try next week on Monday. We're 617 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,319 Speaker 1: gonna have the show on Monday, the morning of Game three. 618 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 1: It will be I Guess taped in Phoenix, much to 619 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:27,920 Speaker 1: my surprise at everyone surprise. 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