1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: From the Berkshires 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 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: on major League Baseball. Now Here's Baseball Hall of Fame 5 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: voter number seventy six, Rob Parker, Welcome into the opening 6 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: day addition of Inside the Parker for the two season. 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: Bob Costa stops buy on Inside the Parker. Also former 8 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: Major League outfielder Cameron Maybin. He has a new career 9 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: as a TV analyst for the New York Yankees. That 10 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: plus foul Affair and more up to lead off, it's 11 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: getting robbed to keep him on. Rob's hot take on 12 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one, 13 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: It's Opening Day all over MLB America. And I don't 14 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: know about you, but I'm excited. Opening Day means so 15 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: many things to me. The starter spring, uh, the idea 16 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: that uh all thirty clubs have a chance, even though 17 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: we know they don't all have a chance. But the 18 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: new baseball season. And I know there were a lot 19 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: of fans out there sweating it out, thinking that maybe 20 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: we wouldn't have a season because of the way the 21 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: labor situation win and went down to the hour and 22 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: people were panicking, and uh, it did come together. And 23 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: best of all, we're gonna have a full season, all 24 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty two games starting this season a 25 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: week later. But they'll be able to make up those 26 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: games any longer, and it would have been a problem. 27 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: But we're here now. Let's not worry about that. Put 28 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: that on the back burner. We should be thinking about 29 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: the fresh cut grass, the smell at the ballpark, the 30 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: crack of the bat, the smell of hot dogs, and 31 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: the beer vendor. Be here, beer here. That is all 32 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: you should be worried about on opening Day. And I've 33 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: had the pleasure of working in some of the best 34 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: baseball cities in America. Cincinnati where it was like a holiday, 35 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: Detroit where everybody loved Opening Day. Of course, New York 36 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: with two big baseball teams and history. In New York 37 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: and Los Angeles, we're four million people by Dodger tickets 38 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: every year. So happy Opening Day to all you baseball fans. Man, 39 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: what a season, and I can't wait. Number two. The 40 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: biggest change in Major League Baseball this season is the 41 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: universal d H for the first time in National League history, 42 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: pitchers won't hit for themselves. It'll be a d H 43 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: like the American League. The American League has at a 44 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: d H since nineteen seventy three, but the National League 45 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: has never had one, and since the eighteen hundreds, So 46 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: this is a new territory. I'm gonna tell you, I 47 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: don't want to be the old man telling everybody to 48 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: get off his law on. But I'm not that thrilled 49 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: about the universal d H. I love the National League 50 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: style of baseball, which was the original style, the way 51 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: that having the double day invented it. So I'm kind 52 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: of the clempt over the idea of having a d 53 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 1: H in the National League. I think it's gonna take 54 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: away strategy and managers are basically just gonna be sitting 55 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: there like they're running a beer softball league, you know, 56 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: grab a bat and take a swing. So here we 57 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: are universal d H. I'm giving it a thumbs down, 58 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: but I guess I'm gonna have to accept it. Number three, 59 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: here we go. It's time for my World Series pick. 60 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: I know we now have twelve playoff teams, uh, and 61 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: which is a lot something that the owners wanted extra 62 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: playoff teams added. We went from ten at twelve, so 63 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: there'll be more teams in the mix. But I'm gonna 64 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: give you my American League favorite and my National League 65 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: favorite and my World Series winner. For the American League, 66 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: I'm going against the grain. I'm going with the New 67 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: York Yankees. And I know people are gonna say, what 68 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: what about the Astros? What about teams like that? What 69 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: about the Red Sox, what about the Raise those teams. 70 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go with the Yankees. They have not one 71 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 1: since two thousand nine, They've had a ton of injuries. 72 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: I just think they're pitching will get together, and I 73 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 1: think if standing and Judge, we saw what they could do. 74 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: If they stay healthy, they will make it to the 75 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: World Series. Finally, in the National League, I know everyone 76 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: is picking the Los Angeles Dodgers, and rightfully so. They 77 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: have four former m vps on their team. They're stacked, 78 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: they're loaded. They picked up Freddie Free from the Atlanta Braves. 79 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: But I'm going against the grain. I'm picking the San 80 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: Diego Padres. And I know Fernando Tattoos will be hurt 81 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: to start the season, but I still like that team. 82 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 1: Manny Machado. I love C. J. Abrams Uh an emerging prospect, 83 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: and their rotation has depth and if they stay healthy, 84 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: Darvish must Grove Paddock and Mike Clevinger. Uh is another guy. 85 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: Remember those guys were banged up last year. That's why 86 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: that team didn't make the playoffs, and the Giants somehow 87 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: won the NL West and the Padres didn't make the 88 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: World Series or the playoffs. I should say I'm going 89 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: with the Padres Yankees Padres, and I'm picking the Bronx 90 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: Bombers to beat the Padres in six games. It will 91 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: be epic, will see tattoos. Machado, Judge and Standing Oh my, 92 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:05,679 Speaker 1: I talk about the ratings bonanza Yankees Padres World Series. 93 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: Here comes the big interview Listen Hendler. Good Now, let's 94 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: welcome in legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Costas. Of 95 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: course you know him from the NBA, the NFL, but 96 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: of course Major League Baseball. A man who loves baseball 97 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: as much as I do. I think he should have 98 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: been the Commissioner of Baseball at one point, but currently 99 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: he does h MLB network games. Mr Bob Costa is 100 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast. How you doing, Bob, how are 101 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: you doing? Great? And Bob Opening Days upon us? Here 102 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: we go. I know people were a little nervous, uh, 103 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: with the lockout, but we had twenty eight years of 104 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: labor piece. I think we should have expected a couple 105 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: of bumps, But we're gonna have a hundred and sixty 106 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: two games. How happy are you? Yeah, I'm happy about it. 107 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: As we speak. It's a nice day in New York. 108 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: Temperature around sixty last week. I was worried that maybe 109 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: Opening Day around New York would be forty degree temperatures. 110 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: So put you in a baseball frame of mind. And 111 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: despite whatever annoyances fans may have felt about the ongoing 112 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: lockout and some of what they heard coming out of 113 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: the negotiations, once they start playing, the main concern of 114 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: fans are their teams and what's happening on the field 115 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: and the game overall. Uh. The economic issues are significant 116 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: to everyone involved, the owners, the front office people, to players, 117 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: but they're not that significant to fans once they start 118 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: playing games. What is significant to fans is the state 119 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: of the game on the field. The idea of expanded 120 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: playoffs good idea, not a good idea? What about the 121 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: format how should we go about it? Universal d H, 122 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: pace of play, outlawing shifts, ghost runner on second base, 123 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: perhaps limiting the number of pictures on a roster. So 124 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: it is in the constant parade out of the bullpen, 125 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: and starters learned to go deeper into games. All those 126 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: things are what fans care about. Our guests is Bob 127 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: cost is the legendary sportscaster here on opening day inside 128 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: the parker. Let me pepper you with a couple of 129 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: things about baseball this year, Bob and number one universal 130 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: d H. I was always a National League guy, loved 131 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: the strategy of the game. Are you in with the 132 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: universal d A? Well, it was inevitable. The National League 133 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: basically the only league in all of baseball that doesn't 134 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: have the d H and hasn't had the d H 135 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: at every other level of play. It exists. And we 136 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 1: know that American league managers in front office people were 137 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: concerned not just about the competitive disadvantage because in Ita 138 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: League games or in the World Series there their pictures 139 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 1: were doing something coming up to the plate which they 140 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: didn't have much practice in doing. But also they're concerned 141 00:08:55,200 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: about um pictures running the bases and being hurt because 142 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: of their unfamiliarity with that aspect of the game. Um, 143 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: there is an upside to the universal d H. I'm 144 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: with you, Rob, that I enjoy Uh the additional strategic wrinkles, 145 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: Uh that the picture batting brings to the National League 146 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: game little nuances. But there are upsides to the universal 147 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: d H. It Back in the early days of the 148 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: d H, it sustained the careers of an Orlando Cepeda, 149 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: Carlier Stremski, and al Ka line players like that. And 150 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: the most prominent example right now is Albert Pujolst being 151 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: able to have a farewell season with the Cardinals when 152 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: we know that really his only use at this point, 153 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: well into his forties, is certain matchups against certain left 154 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: handed pitchers. The Universal d H allows him not just 155 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: to extend his career by another year, but to do 156 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: it in St. Louis. So there is an upside. How 157 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: about the Dodgers their line up four former m vps 158 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: in it. They pick up Freddie Freeman as a free 159 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: agent from the Braves. Dodgers one of the strongest lineups 160 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 1: you've seen in the long on, Bob, Oh, Yeah, it's 161 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: a tremendous lineup. You know, they want a hundred and 162 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: six games last year and then beat the team that 163 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: won a hundred seven in the division series. Uh, they 164 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: did lose Max Scherzer. And at the beginning of last 165 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: year they thought that Trevor Bauer would be an asset 166 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: and now he's in limbo. UM, So they're pitching is 167 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: not as formidable, which is not to say that it 168 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 1: isn't good, but it's not as formidable as it might 169 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: have appeared to be, uh mid season last year. But 170 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: that lineup is fillacious, no question about it. When you 171 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: look at San Francisco, Buster Posey has retired, and they 172 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: had four or five veteran guys who all kind of 173 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: maxed out last year, Posey among them. You know, you 174 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: hope that uh, maybe two or three of them will 175 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: have a year that approximates their career averages as they 176 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: get into their mid thirties or whatever it might have been. 177 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: And four or five of those guys just kind of 178 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: hit the jackpot for them. That is unlikely to be repeated. 179 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: And of course Posey is gone. So I think the 180 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,119 Speaker 1: Dodgers would all due respect to with the Giants, accomplished 181 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,559 Speaker 1: last year, and the Giants will certainly be a contender, 182 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 1: especially with three wild cards now in each league. You 183 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: gotta make the Dodgers the odds on our guests, his 184 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: legendary sportscaster to Bob Costas here opening day inside the Parker. 185 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: Let me ask you, Bob, Brian Cashman, who's done a 186 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: great job for years with the Yankees, but a little 187 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: belly yanching the Yankees having won a World Series since 188 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: two thousand nine or been to one. Bob and Cashman 189 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: is blaming the Astros cheating scandal as the reason why. 190 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: I think in seventeen, but I think there's been other 191 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: years too. What do you make of that? Well, the 192 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: Yankees and other teams have a reason to be resentful 193 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: of what the Astros were found guilty of doing in 194 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: but that doesn't explain all the other seasons in which, 195 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: uh they came up short. With the Yankees making the playoffs, 196 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: having a winning record, whatever it might be, is not 197 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 1: enough because their fan base expects trips to the World Series, 198 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: and this past decade, the Tens are the only decade 199 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: in which the Yankees have not made it to the 200 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: World Series since the Teens. Incredible, it's going going back 201 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: to the arrival of Babe Ruth in the nineteen twenties. 202 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: Even though the eighties were a fallow decade for the Yankees, 203 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: they did go to the World Series in one where 204 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: they lost to the Dodgers. So this past decade and 205 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 1: now it's stretching to thirteen years, is the longest Yankee 206 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: stretch pre Babe Ruth without a trip to the World Series. 207 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: Last thing here, Bob, gambling aspect of sports, we already know. 208 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: The league's, NFL, NBA, major League Baseball, they're all in 209 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: bed with gambling, and it's a big part. It's not 210 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: nationally approved yet by all the states, but it just 211 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: looks like it's just a matter of a time for 212 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: that to happen. But when I talked to gambling people, 213 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: they say baseball will be the biggest beneficial benefactors of 214 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: sports gambling because there are more games and more things 215 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: to bet on. How do you do you do we 216 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: you envision us going to a baseball game and being 217 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: able to bet on guys at bats pitched, you know, 218 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: whether it's a strike of ball, stuff like that, will 219 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: it be? Do you think we'll get to that point 220 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: pretty close? There's already going to be a betting parlor 221 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: on site at Wrigley Field. I'm not naive about this. 222 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: As you may know, Rob, I grew up around gambling. 223 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: My father was an inveterate gambler. Not at casino is, 224 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: not at race tracks. He bet on ball games. Baseball games, yes, 225 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: also NFL games, NBA games, only very occasionally hockey games. 226 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: That was when he was desperate for action. There's nothing 227 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: else going on but this. To me, even though it 228 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: was traumatic because very often literally the mortgage was writing 229 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: on the outcome of a game, to me it had 230 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: kind of a Runyon esque sort of romance about it. Uh. 231 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: Now when everybody can just have an app on their 232 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: phone and be sitting there betting, Um, we know that 233 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: for many it'll just be a hobby, it'll just be 234 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: a little thing they do within reason. But inevitably, when 235 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: millions and millions of people are gambling, and when it's 236 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: so easy, I mean, my dad had to find a 237 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: bookie and have a code with the guy he literally 238 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: met with guy's name blinky and three finger. I'm not like, 239 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: you know, guys like from a movie. Scorsesey would have 240 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: known guys like this, And so now it's so easy Inevitably, 241 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: some people are going to become addicted despite the little 242 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: wink wink thing gambling problem called this number because the 243 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: league don't have any problem with it. They used to 244 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: every commissioner testified before Congress. Oh my gosh, legalized gambling 245 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: within like the last decade. Legalized gambling will be the 246 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: end of sports as we know it. And now they 247 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: completely embrace it, they completely encourage it. What will also 248 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: happen even among those who are not hopelessly addicted and 249 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: aren't ruining their lives and and going down the drain 250 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: with it. It makes the relationship between the fan and 251 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: his team, or the fan and the sport even more 252 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 1: cynical than it was already becoming. You know, I can 253 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: remember when people used to hope that their team won. 254 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: They didn't demand that their team won. They might have 255 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: shaken their shaken their heads ruefully when things didn't go well, 256 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: but they weren't angry and demanding a result. Um. Now 257 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: that relationship has changed already. And when you have money 258 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: righting on, as you said, Rob, not just the outcome 259 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: of the game, but individual moments within the game, then 260 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: the whole relationship becomes transactional. And look I'm not naive. 261 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: I've been around it a long time. I've seen how 262 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: it changes or has changed. But some of some of 263 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: the fondness, some of the sweetness of that connection inevitably 264 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 1: is going to go down the drain with gambling added 265 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: to any number of other things that makes us feel 266 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: more cynical rather than sentimental about sports. His name is 267 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: Bob Costa is the legendary sportscast of Bob. We appreciate you, 268 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: Thank you so much on this opening day. Happy to 269 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: do it, Rob, play ball. Fox Sports Radio has the 270 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of 271 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within 272 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: the I Heart Radio app search f s R to 273 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: listen live. It's time for the Pocket Protector Central, the 274 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: analytic numbers you need to know? Well, maybe Anthony Masterson 275 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: is his name, b S Analytics is his game. What 276 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: do you got for me, Anthony? Well it might have 277 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: been touch and go there for a while, but we 278 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: made it. Baseball season is here at last, with no 279 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: shortage of storylines. Entering the season, the Dodgers and Blue 280 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 1: Jays have the best odds to win the World Series. 281 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: The Dodgers, with their league high two hundred seventy seven 282 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: million dollar paid roll and the Jay's with one of 283 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 1: the youngest rosters in the game, adding Platinum Glover Matt 284 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: Chapman and nearly three hundred million in free agency. The 285 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: Braves are trying to become the first repeat champs since 286 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: the Yankees, and they are loaded for bear. Sure. They 287 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: lost face of the franchise, Freddie Freeman, but his replacement, 288 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: Matt Olson, is no slouch. Olson's two home run since 289 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: are the most for any first baseman, and his eighteen 290 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 1: point three wins above replacement are third in that time, 291 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: behind Paul Goldschmidt and of course Freeman. Yet Olson is 292 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: four years younger. Speaking of youth, it is being served 293 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: on Opening Day. Service time issues be damned. Three of 294 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 1: the top four prospects according to Baseball Perspectives will be 295 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: making their big league debuts on opening Day. The Royals 296 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 1: Boy You Went Jr. Is twenty one and at thirty 297 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: three home runs until twenty nine bags last year, reaching 298 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: Triple A. The Mariners Julio Rodriguez had a one thousand 299 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: one ops as a twenty year old through two levels 300 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: last year, and Detroit's Spencer Torkelson is just twenty two, 301 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: but at thirty home runs in his first minor league 302 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: season to earn his call up. And another fun sign 303 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: of the times, there will be thirteen players making at 304 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: least thirty two million this season, more than the payrolls 305 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: of the entire A's and Orioles rosters. Thankfully, baseball is back, baby. 306 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 1: It was a big week in the big leagues. Who's 307 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:47,440 Speaker 1: Who's Is it foul? Or is it fair? And now 308 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 1: from MLB bro dot com, here's j R Gamble j R. 309 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: Is it foul or fair? To say the failing to 310 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:05,679 Speaker 1: resign Drollman will stop the Mets from winning the division? Fair? 311 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 1: The Mets win all in this off season with new 312 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: owner Steve Cohen ushering in a new age where the 313 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:16,639 Speaker 1: Mets have a bigger payroll than the Yankees and splurge 314 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: to get future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer to come 315 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 1: to Flushing Queens and form a double headed monster with 316 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 1: the great Jacob deGrom, similar to the Kurt Schilling Randy 317 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: Johnson combination that upset the Dynasty Yankees in the two 318 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: thousand one World Series. The plan was admirable. Mets fans 319 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: appreciated the efforts and started talking World Series. The problem is, 320 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: in typical Mets fashion, the front office had no foresight 321 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: and letting Marcus Stroman go, especially in light of the 322 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: fact that the Graham is predictably hurt again, was probably 323 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: the worst move they could have made this offseason, and 324 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: it offset a lot of positive moves by the team. 325 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: While the Grim battled injuries last year, Marcus Stroman stepped up. 326 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: He was the stroke show and became the ace of 327 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,400 Speaker 1: the workhorse of the Mets staff. Here's a guy who 328 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: was the epitome of a picture. He has an insane 329 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: sixty one ground ball rate and it's fifty eight percent 330 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,959 Speaker 1: rate last year was second in the league. We know 331 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: he went seven inning's just about every started scene, and 332 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 1: he pitched a lot of clutch outs without offense behind him, 333 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: while being the heart and soul of the team, keeping 334 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:38,120 Speaker 1: the energy and developing a great connection with the fans, 335 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: as good a connection as any player in baseball. Now, 336 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 1: with Stroman gone and the Graham out, you're counting on 337 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: an old man in thirty seven year old Scherza, who's 338 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:53,919 Speaker 1: coming to the end of the road to carry this staff. Ha. 339 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: That's not what sers is signed up for. Imagine if 340 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: he still had Stroman. Though he thirty three starts, three 341 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: point zero two e r A and a hundred and 342 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: seventy nine inning pitched, maybe the division would still be 343 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: a possibility. A staff with Shereza antai Wan Walker leading 344 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: the way is decent, but not nearly as formidable. All 345 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 1: the Mets had to do was give Stroman the seventy 346 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: one million dollars the Cubs gave him small price to 347 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 1: pay for a World Series at Shay. When Rob was 348 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto, if I'm writing, 349 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,880 Speaker 1: I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer, a broadcaster, older 350 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 1: new Now, let's welcome in former Major league outfielder Camera Mayben, 351 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: who is now a color analyst for the New York 352 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: Yankees on their YES Network. What's up, Cameron? How are you? Oh? 353 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: My guy? I appreciate you having me on. I'm I 354 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: woke up today, so I'm good and uh, always always 355 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: a good time when I get to chat with you. 356 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: No doubt. Opening Day is upon us, I mean baseball. 357 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 1: How excited are you for Baseball Opening Day? And it's 358 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:13,199 Speaker 1: special for a lot of people because it's the you know, 359 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: the start of spring. And then Uh, baseball is back. 360 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: How excited do you get for Opening Day? You know 361 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: this year will be different, Rob, I've been I've been 362 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: accustomed to, you know, getting ready to put that uniform 363 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 1: on or put you know, put a uniform on. So 364 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:33,239 Speaker 1: it'll be a little bitter sleep for me this year. 365 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: I'm excited to see what it feels like. Uh, you 366 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 1: know the next couple of days when we actually kick 367 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: this thing off and I'm you know, sitting back and 368 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:45,080 Speaker 1: I'm watching as a fan, as a as a color analysts, 369 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: like you said the color commentator. UM, but I'm excited 370 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: for it. I'm actually excited for this new journey. You know, 371 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: it's it's the start of you know, what was kind 372 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: of a hectic I'll see the from Major League Baseball 373 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:58,919 Speaker 1: and then for myself, you know, it's the start of 374 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: a new journey. So I'm extremely excited excited for this 375 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: opening day. I'm glad that we're actually gonna get the 376 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: start on time and and and get get the games 377 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 1: in and get the season underway. Let's talk about you. 378 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 1: You were tired after breaking in with the Detroit Tigers. 379 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: Who I remember you obviously I was working in Detroit 380 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: then and also you were on eleven different Major League 381 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 1: teams you called the quits. What made you decide that 382 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 1: you were done playing? You know a couple of things 383 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,479 Speaker 1: for me, Rob And again you mentioned we met when 384 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: I was When I was a young man, I remember you, 385 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: you know, coming up to me on the baseball field, 386 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 1: putting your arm around me and and wishing me good 387 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 1: luck and telling me that, you know, keep my nose 388 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: clean and make sure you know I did things accordingly. 389 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 1: So I appreciate that stuff as a young man. Whether 390 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 1: you remember it or not, you know, I do remember it, um, 391 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: So I definitely appreciate that. But you know, I think 392 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: the decision was kind of made for me in nineteen 393 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 1: you know, the years I had with the Yankees. I 394 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: think I had two, you know, I think I hit 395 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 1: twenty five and you know, eight each the ops and 396 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: and you know, the my war was high that year. 397 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: Just I had a really really amazing year, you know, 398 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,199 Speaker 1: in the Bronx and the pinch stripes, having the opportunity 399 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: to to feel that nostalgia, to feel that passion of 400 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: of of New York fans and and in New York sports, 401 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 1: and after I had, you know, the year that I 402 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: had I knew, you know, going into my tenth fool 403 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 1: year that was that was a year I needed about 404 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 1: two to three months to get ten four years of 405 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: service time, which is a huge feat. You know, if 406 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 1: people don't know baseball, anybody watching your show, I feel 407 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: like they shooted no baseball. That's a huge feat. Some 408 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: of my favorite players didn't make a ten ten seasons. 409 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: So to accomplish that and then have the season that 410 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 1: I had, uh, and to go into the off season 411 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 1: and yet I want to say, honestly was literally like 412 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 1: twenty two minor league offers. It was mind blowing. You know, 413 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: no face, no name, numbers and analytics, you know, I do. 414 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: I do the quote Fingers you know said that I 415 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 1: was supposed to make five and seven million dollars just 416 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: you know from the resident alone and what I was, 417 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 1: what I was able to do in the game, and 418 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: you know, we're a pretty pretty good reputation. So, uh, 419 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: that was a little disheartening, man. So you know, when 420 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,119 Speaker 1: when that happened, it made me also realized, you know, 421 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 1: I played to win games. I played to try to 422 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: help every team that I've been with better. I wanted 423 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: to win. I wanted to play at the highest level. 424 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: So then again that made me realize the business acspect 425 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 1: that I always realized. But it was like winning wasn't 426 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: as important as as I thought it was, you know. So, uh, 427 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: that aspect of you know, also you know, having to 428 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 1: be a more selfish ball player kind of you know, 429 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:35,199 Speaker 1: mentally kind of weighed on me as well. So it 430 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,199 Speaker 1: made the decision a lot easier. And then having my 431 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: family as well, you know, three kids, a wife, fourteen 432 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: year old who was you know, deep deep in this, 433 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,119 Speaker 1: you know, deep deep waters and falling in love with 434 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: was baseball and basketball. So having an opportunity to be 435 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: with him, watch him do his thing, is it was 436 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: really important and and it made a little bit easier. 437 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: Our guest his former major league outfield the camera MAYBN 438 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: and uh he's currently the New York Yankees color analyst. 439 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 1: And let's talk about that transition too. I'm actually gonna 440 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: let's let me. I'm gonna redo it. Camera, let's do 441 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: this first. Okay, our guest is camera maybe in former 442 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: major league outfielder and current New York Yankees color analysts camera. 443 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: And two things I want to get to with your 444 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: baseball career before your new career in the broadcast booth. 445 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,399 Speaker 1: But I remember a home run, your hit against Roger 446 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:34,000 Speaker 1: Clemens at Yankee Stadium. I remember that it was a 447 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 1: blast center field. Want you to tell me about your 448 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 1: thoughts about that and you won a World Series. Everybody 449 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: doesn't get to win a World Series and be on 450 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: a team with the Houston Nastros, And tell me about 451 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: those two special moments in your career. Well, the first 452 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 1: really really uh one I'll never forget, mainly because my 453 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,360 Speaker 1: whole family had the opportunity to get to be there 454 00:26:57,400 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 1: at the old Yankee Stadium, which with you know, Harvard 455 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: so much history throughout the game. So that was extremely 456 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:05,640 Speaker 1: extremely special for me for them to get a chance 457 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 1: to experience that, and to do it off of, you know, 458 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:10,439 Speaker 1: a guy that I watched growing up, a guy that 459 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 1: I thought was one of the best pitches in the 460 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 1: game as a as a young a young man, as 461 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: a as a young teen. Um, So to do it 462 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 1: against Roger Roger Clemens, and just the whole you know, 463 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,919 Speaker 1: the whole hectic route. I lost my idea, just the 464 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 1: whole story to get there. It was such a you know, 465 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,880 Speaker 1: such a mission to even make it to Yankee Stadium. Um, 466 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: so to do all of that against gets the rocket. 467 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: You know, it's definitely special, you know, to to get 468 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: two hits, to hit a homer, to get plunk my 469 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:41,400 Speaker 1: third at bat. It's how I remember the game being where, 470 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: you know, people the world wasn't as sensitive, so you know, 471 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 1: a guy could hit you and you knew it wasn't 472 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 1: nothing personal with It was almost a welcome to the 473 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 1: big league moment. So that was extremely cool. And then 474 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 1: have a have an opportunity to win the World Series, 475 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: and I tell people I went, you know, u eight 476 00:27:56,359 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: seasons before I even had an opportunity to taste the playoffs, 477 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: to get that feeling, to understand what that that energy 478 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 1: was like. So that opportunity of doing it, to that 479 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,199 Speaker 1: in the Steven team, even with with you know, some 480 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:12,679 Speaker 1: of the backlash and the stuff behind it, you know, 481 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: it means a lot to just have the chance to 482 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: get that opportunity and at that experience, and it's something 483 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: that you know, I'll be proud to have and and 484 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:23,679 Speaker 1: and carry with me, you know, for the rest for 485 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,640 Speaker 1: the rest of my you know, post career as well. 486 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: Speaking of post career, now, I've known Michael Kay who 487 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: was the Yankee play by play man forever. Michael ka 488 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: used to be a newspaper reporter. We covered college basketball 489 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: together that we covered St. John's. So I've known Mike 490 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: for thirty five plus years and he told me, you 491 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 1: crushed your audition for Yes and you did so well. 492 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 1: Where did this idea of even getting involved in broadcasting 493 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: and television? Where did that come from? Well? A lot 494 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: of it came from again, the relationship that you know, 495 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: throughout my career, got guys like yourself, you know, as 496 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 1: far as a baseball guy goes um, you know. Then 497 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: and then towards the end of my career, watching guys 498 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: like Nate Burlison what he was able to do his 499 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 1: post football career. I loved listening to, you know, his 500 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: real life, genuine experience, you know, you know, listening watching 501 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: Ryan Clark come out of come off the field, and 502 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: watching what he's able to do. Richard Jefferson, these guys 503 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 1: I really enjoyed listening to their perspective. And one because 504 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 1: they had knowledge, but one because they literally experienced had 505 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: you know, experience with Lebron James and Kyrie Irving and 506 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: and guys on the court and guys on the field. 507 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: They literally had played against these guys. So I think 508 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: it's cool anytime, you know, I love the perspective of 509 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: all analysts, but I think, how cool is it sometimes 510 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: when you can actually hear from a player who literally 511 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: just came off the field that really knows the guy 512 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: that know how, that knows how a guy he kicks it, 513 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: know how a guy responds when the when the fans 514 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: are on him, and and being learned it from you 515 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 1: being a completely you know, subjective you know, and being 516 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: honest about it. So that's where the opportunity really kind 517 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 1: of grew from me and the thought of wanting to 518 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 1: have the opportunity to to talk baseball, hopefully eventually talk 519 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 1: all sports, to have a long lineage of you know, 520 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: professional athletes to my family. So I've grown up watching 521 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 1: the NFL and NBA at a very very high level, 522 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: up clothes and personal and having conversations with you know, 523 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: professional family, you know athletes. It makes it, you know, 524 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: meet a lot to me. And I wanted also didn't 525 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: want to be a guy that you know, fading into 526 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: black you know, go went away for teen years. I 527 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 1: wanted to stay close to the game and and uh, 528 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: it's something I love, love and and to talk about 529 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 1: and to get my perspective, add a little flavor to 530 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: the booth, bring us another spark an African Americans that 531 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:50,480 Speaker 1: you know I'm hoping to to, you know, bring more 532 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: youthful urban attention to the to the sport as well. 533 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 1: You know, that's something that I definitely want to grow. So, 534 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 1: you know, again, I have a teenager, so even maybe 535 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,520 Speaker 1: his friends are lifting more if they know I'm calling 536 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 1: the game in and so it's just a lot of 537 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: different things that that intrigued me about getting to it. Man, 538 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 1: I'll tell you, I've been in this business a long time, 539 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna be honest, no one could have been 540 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: happier when I saw you got that job. I was 541 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: very very happy for you. I think you're gonna do 542 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 1: great and Yankee fans watching on the Yes Network will 543 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 1: be very happy. His name is Cameron may Ben. Uh 544 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 1: listen out for it because he's breaking into the broadcasting 545 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: world and uh, I couldn't be more thrilled. Matt continued 546 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 1: success and I'll see you in the Bronx. Hey, I 547 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 1: appreciate you, Rob, you know again, paving and paving away 548 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: all the you know, much needed advice throughout my career, 549 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: and and again thank you for the platform that you're 550 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: about to continue to give young men like myself, young 551 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: African American two love game, young people of color. So 552 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 1: you know, thank you and keep doing what you're doing 553 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: to my brother, I really appreciate you as well. Now 554 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: bringing the closer, here's why MLB is better than the 555 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:13,479 Speaker 1: NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close. As we 556 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 1: do every year, here is my old to Opening Day, 557 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: and it's yet another reason why MLB is better than 558 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: the NFL and better than the NBA. So much of 559 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 1: my love for baseball started at an early age, and 560 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 1: my family knew how much I loved baseball, even my mom, 561 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,680 Speaker 1: who was a stickler for school and about getting your 562 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,200 Speaker 1: work done. But when I was in junior high school, 563 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:47,480 Speaker 1: my mom used to write a fake doctor's note for 564 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:51,400 Speaker 1: me so that I could leave school early so that 565 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 1: I could get home to watch the Mets on Opening Day. 566 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 1: I had to see the first pitch of the season 567 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: on TV. I couldn't come home in the third or 568 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 1: fourth inning. I had to see it from the beginning. 569 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 1: And back then I was a Mets fan. I wasn't 570 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: a reporter. I was a fan opening day that stands 571 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: out to me the most dates back to college. I 572 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 1: was a student at Southern Connecticut State University. Me and 573 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: my three buddies. We hopped in the car. We barely 574 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 1: had money for tickets, but we had to see Tom 575 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 1: Sever returned to the Mets. We drove from New Haven, Connecticut, 576 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 1: and I can remember standing up in our seats and 577 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 1: the bleachers and watching Tom sever walked from the bullpen 578 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 1: and to the mound. What a moment it was, right 579 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 1: m H. In the words of New York TV legend 580 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this 581 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 1: time until next time. Rob Parker out. He can't get it. 582 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:13,040 Speaker 1: This could be an inside of Parker to see you 583 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:31,320 Speaker 1: next weekend. Save that time, same mass station. H