1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: From the berkshears to the sound from wherever you live 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 1: in MLB America. This is inside the Parker. You give 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 1: us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: on major League Baseball. Now, here's Baseball Hall of Fame 5 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: voter number fifty six, Rob Parker. 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 2: Come on, I've been covering Major League Baseball for almost 7 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 2: forty years now in New York, in Cincinnati, in Detroit, 8 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 2: in LA. 9 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 3: I love this game. Let's go. Welcome into the podcast. 10 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,599 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Rob Parker, and man, we have a 11 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 2: great Opening Day edition of the podcast coming up. Former 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 2: Major league catcher Alex Avila he joins us, talks some 13 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: insight about his new book and what's gonna happen with Tark. 14 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 3: Schoobl and the Tigers. That's interesting to hear about. 15 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: Also from MLB Network, a guy I'm on with every 16 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 2: Thursday on MLB Now, Brian Kenny stops by. He has 17 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: some insight and prediction for the upcoming season. Plus we 18 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: have my ode to Opening Day and this year my 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 2: fortieth year covering Major League Baseball. We have a special 20 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 2: segment every week here on the podcast where I give 21 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 2: you one of my favorite baseball stories in my long 22 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 2: baseball writing journey. 23 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 4: That and much more. Let's go better up to lead off. 24 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,479 Speaker 4: It's getting rocked and keep him mind. Rob's hot take 25 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 4: on the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one. 26 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: Opening Day is here, twenty twenty six. I'll be in 27 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: San Francisco Baseball doing something special. The only game to 28 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 2: open the season will be the New York Yankees at 29 00:01:55,040 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: the San Francisco Giants Oracle Park. APAs start eastern right 30 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 2: there on Netflix. Nowhere else, no other outlet, No Fox, 31 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 2: no MLB Network, no ESPN. It will be on Netflix. 32 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 2: They're making a big deal about it. In the old days, 33 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 2: growing up, the Cincinnati Red used to play the first 34 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: game of the year. They always had the traditional opener 35 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 2: for baseball. That change when they started playing everybody on 36 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 2: opening Day, so this will be a big deal. I 37 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 2: get the complaints by some about it being on Netflix. 38 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 2: Everybody doesn't have Netflix. That would be the one drawback 39 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: from this. But I love the idea of putting baseball 40 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: on the center stage. One game everybody in America can 41 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 2: tune in and say, Hey, it's baseball season and it's 42 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 2: great looking forward to. Also, Sunday Night Baseball on NBC, 43 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 2: which is going to be great as a baseball returns 44 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 2: to NBC. So I like some of these steps, but 45 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 2: opening Day twenty twenty six and it should be great. 46 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: Number two congratulations in mazel tov to Cub center fielder 47 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: Pete crow Armstrong, who reportedly is in line for a 48 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 2: new contract extension with the Cubs. He turns twenty four 49 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: on Wednesday, Opening Day, and last year was a monster 50 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 2: season for me. Won a Gold Glove, he went thirty, 51 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 2: thirty home runs and steals, the first Cub to do 52 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: it in three decades. I mean, there's a lot of 53 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: stuff here and the Cubs are smart. He's young, get 54 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: them paid, lock him up, make him a part of 55 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: your long term plans. 56 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 3: He was even an MVP conversations early on in the season. 57 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 3: There are no. 58 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: Terms or numbers yet on what this payout will be, 59 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: but the Cubs are doing the right thing. Don't wait 60 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: on a guy like this, don't play around. You have 61 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: a star you want to build, lock him up. It 62 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: only costs you more the longer you wait. So I 63 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 2: think the Cubs are smart here locking up Pete crow Armstrong. 64 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 2: I think it's a great move and he's an exciting 65 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: player to watch. 66 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: Number three. 67 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: All right, here's the moment you've been waiting for my 68 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six World Series pick. 69 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 3: And stop me if you've heard this before. Fuck I know, 70 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 3: I know. 71 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 2: No, the Dodgers are not going to win a third 72 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 2: year in a row. There will be no three p 73 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 2: in Los Angeles. Two years ago, the Dodgers should have 74 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: been beaten by the Padres, and the Padres choked. Last 75 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 2: year they were outplayed the entire series to the Blue Jays, 76 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: and the blue Jays choked, and the Dodgers won again. 77 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 3: This year, They've reloaded. I get it, Tucker Diez. 78 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 2: All these big time free agents money throwing around the 79 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 2: roster looks great. 80 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 3: Oh yes, I get it. I'm not going there. 81 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: I'm picking the New York Yankees to beat the San 82 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 2: Diego Padres in the twenty twenty six World Series. 83 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 3: I know I'm grinning because this has been my pick 84 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,479 Speaker 3: for the last couple of years and I keep getting 85 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:13,119 Speaker 3: it wrong. 86 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be right this year. Do not discount the Padres. 87 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 2: They still have a good team and roster. Do not 88 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 2: discount the Yankees. Add Garret Cole their ace to what 89 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:26,559 Speaker 2: they had a year ago. 90 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 3: I just I think that they're good. They had the 91 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 3: same record as the Blue Jays. 92 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: They could have easily been in the World Series, especially 93 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 2: had Garrick. 94 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 3: Cole been healthy. 95 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: Yankees over the Padres in six games. 96 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: Book it here comes the big interviews. Listen and learn. 97 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 3: It's so good. Now let's welcome into the podcast. 98 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 2: Alex Avila, my god thirteen year major league catcher, has 99 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 2: a new book that just came out. You're Detroit Tigers, 100 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: The Great, the Good, the Top four Hundred, co authored 101 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: by Tom Gage, the Baseball Hall of Fame writer from 102 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: the Detroit News. 103 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 3: My old co worker. 104 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 2: Great guy, Alex, Welcome to the program. We appreciate you. 105 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 3: How you doing. 106 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:17,679 Speaker 5: I'm doing great, ro I appreciate you having me. 107 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 2: Always, uh, tell me about the book first, and I 108 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: know you've written a few, but tell me about this one. 109 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 6: Well, I mean, this was, you know, basically, this was 110 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 6: kind of like, you know, Tom's baby, and I think 111 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 6: for him, he kind of got the idea to do 112 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 6: the Top four hundred Tigers players of all time, really 113 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 6: right after Mickey retired and because there was a lot 114 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,679 Speaker 6: of talk about it, if Cabrero was the best Tigers 115 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 6: hitter ever. And so I think that kind of, you know, 116 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 6: piqued his interest to you know, kind of put something 117 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 6: like this together probably you know, the most extensive look 118 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 6: at the top Tigers players ever. I mean, when you're 119 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,119 Speaker 6: talking about four hundre players, got two hundred and fifty 120 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 6: eight hitters and one hundred and forty two pitchers that 121 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 6: are listed here. And so he goes into it as 122 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 6: far as the ranking, and it's strictly based on stats 123 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 6: and analytics. There's no opinion, there's no bias in it. 124 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 6: So it's basically your performance as a Tiger, and he's 125 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 6: written up some great profiles for each guy. And then 126 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 6: basically we got together at Jim Leland's Hall of Fame 127 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 6: induction in Cooperstown. We got to kind of talking and 128 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 6: catching up a little bit. And then a couple of 129 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 6: weeks after he had he called me and said, hey, 130 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 6: I've been working on this for this book. Would really 131 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 6: love you to join me on this to provide the 132 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 6: player's perspective, perspective of you know, having played with and 133 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 6: against a lot of these guys, you know, the newer guys, 134 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 6: but then also you know, you know, also someone to 135 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 6: be able to kind of look back in some of 136 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 6: the better players in Tiger's history. 137 00:07:58,840 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 5: And get that person. 138 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 6: But I thought I jumped at the chances like this 139 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 6: would be, you know, a fun project with Tom to 140 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 6: kind of you know, look back and and uh and 141 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 6: check out some of these guys. 142 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 5: Uh, you know, careers. 143 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 6: The thing is, like, you know a lot of guys 144 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 6: you know throughout this list, like it jogs your memory, right, 145 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 6: you start thinking, you start seeing guys that you kind 146 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 6: of forget about because maybe they were on some bad 147 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 6: teams or like they were your favorite player, but you 148 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 6: know they might have been overshadowed by someone else on 149 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 6: the team. And you know, so it was a fun 150 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 6: side project, you know, for me to kind of do 151 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 6: something with Tom here and uh. And it's a good 152 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 6: like it's a good history book for Tigers fans, you know, 153 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 6: something to you know that you can kind of look 154 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 6: back on your favorite players and get some stories and 155 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 6: fun facts and tidbits about them. 156 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 2: Awesome, all right, and you can pick that up. It's 157 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 2: available Amazon and wherever you buy your books. So that's 158 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 2: a great thing. I do want to ask let's bounce 159 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 2: around Major League Baseball of course, or an analyst on 160 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 2: MLB Network. We get to get on a set every 161 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 2: so often and mix it up, you know, you know 162 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: how I like to do, Alex. 163 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 5: You know when it's meet you and BK. It's always 164 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 5: a lot of fun on set. 165 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 2: It really really is the WBC. Just I want to 166 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 2: get your opinion overall of just the event, which I 167 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 2: think most people. The TV ratings tell you how good 168 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 2: it is. But I was a little taken aback and 169 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 2: I'm still when I hear major leaguers say it's better 170 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: than winning the World Series, I'm going to pump the 171 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 2: brakes on that. I'm not going to take away from 172 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:37,319 Speaker 2: playing for your country and what that means. Alex, this 173 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 2: has only been around for twenty years. Cannot be bigger. 174 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 3: Than winning a World Series. Where are you on that? 175 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 5: As a former player, No, I would agree with you 176 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 5: on that. 177 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 6: As a former player, I think sometimes like I mean, 178 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 6: for me, the World Series has always been the pinnacle. 179 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 6: I think, you know, during this tournament, a lot of 180 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 6: guys kind of get swept up into in the emotion 181 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 6: of it, which is great, It's fine. I mean that's 182 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 6: what you know this, you know, the tournament has become. 183 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,719 Speaker 6: I think the fact that like when this started, right, 184 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 6: it was like this big experiment to try to you know, 185 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 6: have some sort of Olympic s type of tournament, you know, 186 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 6: for baseball. And you know, I think you know, for 187 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 6: a lot of people in the league MLB, like we're 188 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 6: just kind of wondering how this was going to play out. 189 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 6: The fact that it's gotten this popular you know, worldwide, 190 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:33,199 Speaker 6: especially by the nations that participate, is uh. I think 191 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 6: it's really good for baseball. But I'm sure like the 192 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 6: growth of it and the attention of it, you know, 193 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 6: was has gone a little bit faster, and I think 194 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 6: a lot of people expect, especially the last couple of WBCs, 195 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 6: to where like, you know, it took a little while 196 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 6: for the fans to kind of get engaged with it. 197 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 5: Now they are. 198 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 6: But then also you know, now the players are are 199 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 6: engaged with it, where before it was kind of like 200 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 6: more of an inconvenience. You know, now guys are are 201 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 6: looking forward to doing this, even though like the timing 202 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 6: is still not great as far as when it is, 203 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 6: and there's there's you know, those types of you know, 204 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 6: kind of restrictions because of when it is. But the 205 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 6: fact that that players now you know, don't kind of 206 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 6: try to avoid it and are looking forward to it 207 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 6: and want to play in it. 208 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 5: I think speaks volumes to. 209 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 6: You know, the the competitiveness one thing, but then also 210 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 6: the energy you know that the you know, those types 211 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 6: of environments bring. 212 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 5: So I think that's all good. 213 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 6: But to say that I think that it's it's bigger 214 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 6: than the World Series. I think sometimes that it's easy 215 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 6: to get caught up in that emotion and then you know, 216 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 6: you know, you have somebody ask you a question right 217 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 6: there and that in that moment after a game. 218 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 3: But for me, it wouldn't be yeah, I'm with you. 219 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 2: Our guest is Alexabila, who of course is on MLB Network. 220 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 2: He's an analyst there. Former All Star catcher, played thirteen 221 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 2: years in a Big Leagues. I was there when you 222 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: broke in in two thousand and nine in Detroit, so 223 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 2: I saw your career. 224 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 3: In the very beginning. 225 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 2: In those good years, the Tigers were really good. And 226 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 2: speaking of the Tigers, I do want to get your 227 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 2: insight on the whole Tark Schoobal, their ace pitchers won 228 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 2: back to backside youngs and you know he wants four 229 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars. 230 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:20,959 Speaker 3: Let's just call it what it is. 231 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,719 Speaker 2: I'm not so sure the Tigers want to pay four 232 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars. 233 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 3: How do you see this playing out? If the Tigers 234 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 3: fall out of it early? Do they trade them get something? 235 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 2: Do they do what the Angels did, which was let 236 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 2: it play out the whole year and then Otani walked, 237 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 2: you know what I mean? Without getting anything? What do 238 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 2: you think the Tiger is going to do? And this 239 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 2: is a tough spot to be in. 240 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 6: Yeah, it is a It is a tough spot I 241 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 6: think for the team to be in. You know, my 242 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 6: guess is my best guess is that they're going to 243 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 6: play it out. I think they. I mean, you have 244 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 6: to at this point. They have a good team, even 245 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 6: if you're you know, within striping this it's around the deadline. 246 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 6: You know, the talent on their team has the ability 247 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 6: to make a run even if you're not playing as 248 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 6: well leading up to you know, the trade deadline in 249 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 6: the middle of this summer. So I think I think 250 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 6: you play it out with schoogle and you know, going 251 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 6: into the offseason, they're gonna do like you know, kind 252 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 6: of you know what a lot of teams do with 253 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 6: like kind of big stars like that end up, you know, 254 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 6: costing too much. They're going to try enough, but maybe 255 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 6: it's not gonna be enough. And you know, I hope 256 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 6: for Tigers fans like maybe you know, they they figure 257 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 6: out a way to kind of get a deal done 258 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 6: because he's he is a superstar in that city and 259 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 6: people love him as they should. He's, you know, one 260 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 6: of the best pitchers in baseball. And but I find 261 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 6: it hard to believe that they're going to be able 262 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:51,319 Speaker 6: to hold onto them. But at least for the Tigers 263 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 6: for this year, I think they play it out throughout 264 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 6: the year. 265 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 2: All right, last thing, Alex uh MVP. It's hard to 266 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 2: go into any season here we are twenty twenty. Is 267 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 2: it not going to be Otani and Aaron Judge as 268 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 2: yale an nl MVP real quick? Obviously, Otani with the 269 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 2: pitching and hitting, so we know he's doing something. He's 270 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: a unicorn and nobody does so that autumn, and he 271 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 2: does it at a high level on both and then 272 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: Judge in the league baseball, but the average batting average. 273 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 3: Is two forty two. 274 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 2: This dude hit three thirty one, three thirty one with power. 275 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 2: How are these two guys not going to be the MVP. 276 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 6: Well, I don't know, Rob, And a question for you 277 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 6: for you too, because I've thought about this too, is like, 278 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 6: you know, when was the last time like we've had 279 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 6: a couple of players like this that are that have 280 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 6: been this good for that long to where they kind 281 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 6: of have a stranglehold on the MVP every single year, 282 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 6: and you there needs to be some sort of you know, uh, 283 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 6: cataclysmic event over the course of the year for them 284 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 6: not to win it, whether it's like an injury or 285 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 6: somebody has a care your year like we had you know, 286 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 6: cal Riley did last year, and still that wasn't enough, 287 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 6: you know. So, like, I can't remember a time when 288 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 6: we've had like two players like this like really have 289 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 6: a strangle though like during my time, you know, Mickey 290 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 6: wanted a couple of years in a row, but then 291 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 6: you have Mike Trout, you know. 292 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 5: So, I don't know when can you think of a 293 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 5: time Like You're gonna. 294 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 2: Give you one that has been thrown now as a comparison, 295 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 2: and it's not you ready, Yeah, Magic and Bird with 296 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: the NBA when they came in together, right East Coast, 297 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 2: West Coast, two big stars, two big franchises, right Yankees, 298 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: East Coast, West Coast, moving the needles like like. 299 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 6: Real, yeah, no, that's that's a great comparison. I love 300 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 6: that comparison because that's I mean, there's nothing that I 301 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 6: can think of that that comes close to that except 302 00:15:57,840 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 6: for that. 303 00:15:58,320 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 5: For sure, that's a great comparison. 304 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 6: I do love though, like how because I know, like 305 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 6: earlier in the spring, you know, want Soda had come 306 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 6: out and says, hey, I'm gonna you know, like you know, 307 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 6: kind of talking a little bit of trash, like, you know, 308 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 6: try to take that m VP from from Otani. Which 309 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 6: I like that, right, you know, you want that kind 310 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 6: of competition from the star players in the league that 311 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 6: you know, hey, this guy's been at the top of 312 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 6: the heap for a while, but you know, don't feel 313 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 6: comfortable because I'm done for you. 314 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 3: You know. 315 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 5: So I like that. 316 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 3: I was. 317 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 5: I was, actually I was excited to the. 318 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 6: Fact that, you know, a guy like Soda would come 319 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 6: out and say that, like, you know, I'm I'm you know, 320 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 6: I'm working for this, like this is this is not 321 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 6: going to be just a smooth road for him to 322 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 6: get this MVP. 323 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm with you, and he's as talented as anybody 324 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 2: you remember last year. I started off the season calling 325 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 2: Himjuan so So because it was so bad, but he 326 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 2: turned it on Alex. He had a great year. 327 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 3: He'd be had MVP type season. 328 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 2: So all right, Alex Avila, my man, Congratulations on the book. 329 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 3: Everybody go out and get it. 330 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 2: Uh, check out the book and watch Alex on the 331 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 2: MLB Network and hopefully meet you and BK will be 332 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,719 Speaker 2: at the desk a couple times this year. So thanks Alex, 333 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:10,400 Speaker 2: appreciate you for sure. 334 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 5: Thanks Ro, I appreciate you having me on. 335 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 3: It's the Gambler here. 336 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 7: Vice president of Operations for mlbbro dot Com and executive 337 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 7: producer of the MLB Bro Show podcast The Mixtape. 338 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 3: Every Friday. You heard that right. 339 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 7: Every Friday, we bring you the best from the world 340 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 7: of Black and Brown baseball. We cover the seven point 341 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 7: two percent of melanated Major leaguers from soup to nuts, 342 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 7: but with our own cultural flair and unique voice, will 343 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 7: take you on a ride reflecting on the accomplishment, clutch moments, 344 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 7: and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe 345 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 7: into baseball. 346 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 3: From Mookie Wilson to Mookie. 347 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 7: Betts, Doctor K to Doctor Styx, from Bro Bombs to 348 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,880 Speaker 7: stolen bases to black Aces. We're live at the ballparks 349 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 7: and also bringing you segments like classic Hits with David Grubb, 350 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 7: the Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the walk Off, and 351 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 7: Going Deep, just the name a few of the segments 352 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,719 Speaker 7: that truly capture the voice of black baseball. 353 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 3: If things get out. 354 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 7: Of hand, is the Boss, Rob Parker, He's kicking up dust. 355 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,719 Speaker 7: We will gladly pay you on Tuesday from an MLB 356 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 7: bro doubleheader today. Remember the heart of the game lies 357 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 7: in the diversity of the game and the spirit of 358 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 7: black baseball that dates back to the Negro leagues. I 359 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 7: the Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, making sure that 360 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 7: you stay on top of the game and in touch 361 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 7: with the soul of MLB. Fuckle up for a wild 362 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 7: baseball journey, showing respect to the Ogs and highlighting the 363 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 7: new breed of melanated Malma Robins. First thing through MLB's pipelines, 364 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 7: all pitching with the sound of Black Baseball. We got 365 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 7: the best starting five in the business. Listen to the 366 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 7: MLB Bro Show podcast the Mixtape on the iHeartRadio app, 367 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 7: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 368 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto. 369 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer 370 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: or broadcaster, old or new. 371 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 2: Now, let's welcome into the podcast my buddy, Brian Kenny 372 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 2: from MLB Network, of course, the host of MLB Now, 373 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,919 Speaker 2: which I appear every Thursday to mix it up on 374 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 2: a showdown BK Happy baseball season. 375 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 3: What's up, my buddy. 376 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 8: It's good to good to be talking with you, and 377 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 8: I do enjoy following your what is it sixty year retrospective? 378 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:49,719 Speaker 8: Fifty year, forty years, forty forty years. It's amazing, Like 379 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 8: I always pull rank on you because I think I'm 380 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 8: at forty one. I think I started a year or 381 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 8: two before you. But it's amazing, like not long ago, 382 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 8: remember we looked up to guys. It's like, you know 383 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,479 Speaker 8: bean O Cook, you know guy like the Birch Sugar 384 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:09,440 Speaker 8: the right generation and now wait what it's wait where 385 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 8: the voice of experience had that happen? 386 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 2: It's unbelievable when I think about all the time and 387 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 2: being at my first opening day was Pittsburgh nineteen eighty 388 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 2: six Pirates Mets, and to think that this year, the 389 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 2: Pirates and Mets playing Opening Day. 390 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 3: Forty years later. 391 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 9: I was at that game. 392 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 8: I was at that game for my small television station 393 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 8: w l i G TV fifty five on Long Island. 394 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 9: I was out there and was doing interviews. 395 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 8: And I always remembered always bringing this up to Gary 396 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 8: Carter's family, that Gary Carter was coming off the field, 397 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 8: and I'm thinking, you know, it was hard getting interviews 398 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 8: on the field, like for TV, and you know, we're 399 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 8: like some station no one knows in Queen's right, big city. 400 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 8: And I remember Gary Carter's he's going off the field, 401 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 8: says give me a minute. 402 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 9: I just want to towel off and we said, okay, suorret. 403 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 8: I thought Gary Carter's coming back out, like he said 404 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 8: the clubhouse, He's gone. It's not coming back out because 405 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 8: everyone else had left the field. Five minutes later, Gary 406 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 8: Carter comes out and says, okay, I'm ready. I was like, 407 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,159 Speaker 8: it's so fantastic. I was a nobody rob, so I'm like, 408 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 8: forget for an All star like Gary Carter to come out. 409 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:15,959 Speaker 9: I was like, that's class. 410 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:17,919 Speaker 8: I always remember that, and when people said, oh he 411 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 8: was Camera Carter, I'm like, what's wrong? 412 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 9: With being cooperative, right with a good guy, and. 413 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 2: It's part of your jobs right to promote the game. 414 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 2: So he was definitely one of those guys. All right, 415 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 2: let's go with the here we go thoughts on the WBC. 416 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 2: Obviously Japan got knocked out. Everybody thought the United States 417 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 2: will win. 418 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 3: Couldn't hit. 419 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 2: I know a lot of people want to just put 420 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 2: it on judge. They scored four runs BK in the 421 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 2: last two games. 422 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:44,959 Speaker 9: You know, Rob, you know it is what it is. 423 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 8: We don't even need to debate it, right, It's it's 424 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 8: one game, right, you're playing single game. 425 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 9: Any team. You can put up a team of Italian. 426 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 8: Americans, Irish Americans, Czechoslovakian Americans, and you know, if they're 427 00:21:58,960 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 8: playing in the Major. 428 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 9: League for one game, you know, in one game. 429 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 8: The worst Major League team, the Rockies can shellack the Dodgers. 430 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 8: You know, in any series, a team like I remember 431 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 8: watching Pittsburgh was a year or two ago when they 432 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 8: were terrible, sweep the Dodgers like in three. So you 433 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 8: can't get it's a fun tournament. It's great to see 434 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 8: everybody get out there, but it's March. They're not at 435 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,719 Speaker 8: full throttle, and it's single games, So it's fun. But uh, 436 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 8: you know, the US losing by a run in the championship. 437 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 8: You know, I don't look at it like, you know, 438 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 8: the Olympic basketball squad in the eighties, where we better 439 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 8: send our pros and we gotta assert ourselves. 440 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 9: I don't look at it that way. 441 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,880 Speaker 2: Right, all right, let's go to the twenty twenty sixth season, 442 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 2: h and just your expectations, best team coming out of 443 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 2: the National League and then the best team out of 444 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 2: the American League? 445 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 3: Is it just I get the Dodgers roster. Is that 446 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 3: what is going to be? Can the Padres finally do something? 447 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 3: Is there some other team? Maybe? 448 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 8: You Yeah, I think I think there's the Dodgers, and 449 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 8: then there's a shell a whole tier of excellent teams. 450 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,400 Speaker 8: And I think, look, the Phillies haven't taken a real 451 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 8: step back. The Mets are trying to reload, and I 452 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,120 Speaker 8: think they saved themselves with the Boba Schett signing where 453 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 8: they kept you know, they have firepower. So you know, 454 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,959 Speaker 8: I think the Braves are taking hits. I'm not as 455 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 8: much of a believer, but you know, they do have Again, 456 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 8: I look at the general horse power of a team 457 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 8: and it's there, So I think you have that whole 458 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 8: tier of clubs. Look, the Cubs are better, the Brewers 459 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 8: are still very basebally, and they took a hit here 460 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 8: or there, but they always replenish, and they have like 461 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 8: young guys. The mizz is a year older. They're gonna 462 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 8: be quite good. So I think you have a whole shelf. 463 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 8: And the Padres, I think are there, but kind of 464 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 8: on that lower echelon of the national league team. So 465 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 8: you have the superpower and then you have everybody else. 466 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 5: And the question is rob. 467 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 8: Like, how locked in are the Dodgers, And again this 468 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 8: is not a knock on them, it's human nature. 469 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 9: You win, you win again. 470 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 8: They'll be the travel circus again and they'll be like, 471 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 8: as Joe Madden said to me last year's like they're 472 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 8: the Beatles. 473 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 9: They're just rolling around and the stars attached to them. 474 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 8: They're like the ninety eight Bulls and you know they 475 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 8: you know, how how locked into your baseball process can 476 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 8: you be? And then how interested are they in winning 477 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 8: one hundred and eleven games and not just ninety eight? 478 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 9: But I think that the class of. 479 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 8: The league, and I don't think they'll have to go 480 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 8: through the extra tier of playoffs. They were in the 481 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 8: wild card round last year and didn't sweat it. I 482 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 8: don't think they'll be bothering with that this year. 483 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 2: How about the American League, I mean, obviously the Blue 484 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 2: Jays went to the World Series. The Yankees, people forget, 485 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 2: had the same exact record, just lost the time breaker 486 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 2: and they didn't have their ace and Garrett Cole. 487 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 3: Are the Yankees viable? 488 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 9: Oh yeah, no, the Yankees are top sheol. 489 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 8: I look at it like, hey, Yankees and Blue Jays 490 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 8: are there, right, and the blue Jays losing Bashet take 491 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 8: a hit, but they're still quite strong and they I 492 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 8: think they get better. And Vlad is better. Vlad Junior 493 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 8: went next level. I think he's top superstar in the sport, 494 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 8: so impressive. 495 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 9: I think they'll be there. 496 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 8: I think, like my main thought is that Seattle's gonna 497 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 8: be a little better. 498 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 3: Right. 499 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 9: They're a little more established. They saw what they could 500 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:13,879 Speaker 9: do last year. 501 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 8: They are still young and they're kind of diverse in 502 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 8: their attack, and I think, you know, they'll be in it. 503 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 9: And I think the Red Sox will be good from 504 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 9: the get go. Red Sox got good late last year. 505 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 8: They were a mess, a terrible mess early, the Deverest thing, 506 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 8: all that that is not going to be bothering them 507 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:33,160 Speaker 8: this year. 508 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 9: They got very deep. 509 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,360 Speaker 8: Craig Breslo did a great job, but Brian Cashman did 510 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 8: his job too. 511 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 9: So I'm looking at that again. There's a top shelf. 512 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 8: There isn't one team standing above the others like Toronto 513 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 8: had they kept maybe Basheed could be that one team 514 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,160 Speaker 8: like no, no, no, we're a little better than everybody else. 515 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 8: But I think I think Seattle's gonna make their mark 516 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 8: from the start. And again I think, you know, Cleveland, 517 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:57,120 Speaker 8: it's hard for them to bounce back the way they 518 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 8: did Detroit. I believed in them last year. Remember that 519 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 8: was an utter collapse. I think you predicted that, or 520 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 8: maybe maybe you don't know. 521 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:04,880 Speaker 3: I was right on that one. 522 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 8: Yes I did, Yeah you were, because remember they look like, okay, legit. 523 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 8: I don't know what you would call them, top shelf team, 524 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 8: like this is a division champion that's on the run 525 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 8: and they collapsed to get caught last year. 526 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 9: But Detroit's going to be good. I see them riding 527 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 9: out the year with school ball. 528 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 8: I think the commitment to Valdez means why don't we 529 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:24,919 Speaker 8: give this a shot this year and we can make 530 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:25,359 Speaker 8: a run. 531 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 9: So I think you have that top. 532 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 8: Shelf and again a better Boston team and it makes 533 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 8: that Al East and Pete Alonso on the Orioles is 534 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,120 Speaker 8: going to make that very tight in the AL East. 535 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 9: That's a very good division. 536 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:39,919 Speaker 2: All right, one last thing and we're going to go 537 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 2: to I want to just a wild card team in 538 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 2: the AL or a surprise team is right the correct word, 539 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,200 Speaker 2: surprise team that we should look out for. 540 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 3: That maybe we're on paying attention to b CAG this season. 541 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:54,479 Speaker 9: Well, I think you know this. 542 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 8: I think teams are people are paying attention to the 543 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:58,480 Speaker 8: I think the Royals are that good. 544 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 9: I think the Royal the Royal. 545 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 8: They're not deep, so they can't suddenly sustain like Mike 546 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 8: cal Garcia or Bobby Wit you know, injuring their knee 547 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 8: midway through the season. They cannot survive that. But they're 548 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 8: young and springy. They're pitching took a lot of hits 549 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 8: last year. They have an elite rotation in a good 550 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:23,359 Speaker 8: enough bullpen, and they have star talent Vinnie Pascorentino should 551 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 8: be ready to go next level. I think they're gonna 552 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 8: be quite good and we'll contend this year for that 553 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:31,880 Speaker 8: division title with the Tigers. 554 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 3: All right. 555 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 2: His name is Brian kenny Man, one of the best 556 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 2: in the business. Love being on his show MLB Now 557 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 2: every Thursday. 558 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,400 Speaker 3: I'm on MLB Network. 559 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 9: What are we gonna argue about? Rob? What's the be 560 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:46,120 Speaker 9: and your bonnet? 561 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:48,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's gonna be a lot. I don't know. 562 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 2: Maybe I'm not counting it. The Dodgers winning a third 563 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 2: World Series in a row. The Blue Jays choke last year. 564 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 2: I was convinced that they would beat the Dodgers and 565 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 2: they didn't get it done. 566 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 3: They haven't. I've been picked the Padres for the last 567 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,199 Speaker 3: four years. I don't know. 568 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 2: I might pick him again. Who knows. OKBK thank you, 569 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 2: my man. We appreciate you. See you on TV. 570 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:09,920 Speaker 5: Take care, Rob. 571 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: It's time for a trip down memory lane here on 572 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 1: Inside the Parker Rock. 573 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 8: Parker has covered Major League Baseball for forty years. 574 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: Now, let's relive a memorable moment of his career. 575 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 2: Babe Ruth's house was in my neighborhood growing up. No, 576 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:35,359 Speaker 2: for real, not an urban legend. You can google it 577 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 2: right now. When the New York Yankee slugger was playing 578 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 2: in the Bronx back in the nineteen twenties. 579 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 3: He lived in the Addisley. 580 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 2: Park section of Jamaica, Queens, a block from Lyndon Boulevard 581 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 2: and a block from the house I grew up in 582 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 2: on Sayers Avenue. Of course, I was destined to love baseball, 583 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 2: after all, New York is a baseball town. 584 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 3: Best of all, we all knew it was Babe's house. 585 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 3: We had a sense of pride and honor when we 586 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 3: formed our neighborhood team, the Black Cats. 587 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 10: And while there's no proof of any correlation, the bus 588 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 10: in the neighborhood was. 589 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 3: The Q forty two. 590 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 10: We hoped it was named after Jackie Robinson, after all, 591 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 10: he also owned the home a few blocks close to. 592 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 3: Where Babe Bruce House was. 593 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 2: Now you see how I went from a boy loving 594 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 2: baseball into a career as a baseball writer. Hey, this 595 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 2: is Rob Parker. Come back all season long, every week 596 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 2: as I chronicle my forty years of covering Major League Baseball. 597 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 10: And if you missed any episodes, go to mlbbro dot 598 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 10: com and catch up. 599 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: Now, bring in the closer. Here's why MLB is better 600 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:06,959 Speaker 1: than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close. 601 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 2: So much of my love for baseball started at an 602 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 2: early age, and my family knew how much I loved baseball, 603 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 2: even my mom, who was a stickler for school and 604 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 2: about getting your work done. But when I was in 605 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 2: junior high school, my mom used to write a fake 606 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 2: doctor's note for me so that I could leave school 607 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 2: early so that I could get home to watch the 608 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 2: Mets on Opening Day. I had to see the first 609 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 2: pitch of the season on TV. I couldn't come home 610 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 2: in the third or fourth inning. I had to see 611 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 2: it from the beginning. And back then I was a 612 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 2: Mets fan. I wasn't a reporter. I was a fan. 613 00:30:55,720 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 2: Opening Day that stands out to me the most dates 614 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:05,480 Speaker 2: back to college nineteen eighty three. I was a student 615 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 2: at Southern Connecticut State University. 616 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 3: Me and my three buddies. We hopped in the car. 617 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:13,480 Speaker 2: We barely had money for tickets, but we had to 618 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 2: see Tom Seaver return to the Mets. We drove from 619 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 2: New Haven, Connecticut, and I can remember standing up in 620 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 2: our seats in the bleachers and watching Tom Seaver walk 621 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 2: from the bullpen and to the mound. 622 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:31,239 Speaker 3: What a moment it was. 623 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 5: Step right up. 624 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,280 Speaker 2: In the words of New York TV legend the late 625 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 2: Bill Jorgensen. Thanking you for your time this time until 626 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 2: next time. Rob Parker out d can't Gavin. 627 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 3: This could be an inside of Parker. 628 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 8: See you next week, same bat time, from the same 629 00:31:58,920 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 8: Matt's station.