1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: Despite having a great core signed up long term, you're 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: a move or two away from maybe putting this club 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: over the top. And I think that's what's so difficult 4 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: for people to look at and say, why wouldn't you 5 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: do that? 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 2: Get ready for this one. Grant McCauley joining us is 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: super dialed in on the Atlanta Braves, Braves reporter for 8 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 2: ninety two nine, the game host of his show from 9 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 2: the Diamond, among other gigs as well. You can catch 10 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 2: them all over the Atlanta scene. Grant, we spoke about 11 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 2: a week ago, I was on your show, But since then, 12 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 2: the Braves have lost seven games on the West Coast 13 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 2: to start their season. Where do we begin? 14 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: That's a great question, and I don't know that there's 15 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: one correct answer for it either, because it seems like 16 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: if it could go wrong, it has gone wrong. And 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: then some for this Brave's club. But they're not hitting. 18 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: Obviously that's a huge problem. It's hard to win games 19 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: when you don't score runs. I think the pitching has 20 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: some definite holes in it. They're an Oldo Lopez. Injury 21 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: only makes that worse. And then you have the jerks 22 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: and profar of it all. So as far as script 23 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: or conjuring up the worst possible start for a club. 24 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: Oh and by the way, you played two of the 25 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: best teams in baseball as well out West, and you 26 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 1: haven't been home and what feels like about six weeks, 27 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: two months, whatever it is. Yeah, you can pretty much 28 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: look at all these points and say it doesn't add 29 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: up to anything good for the Braves. 30 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 3: You know what the good news is, though, who do 31 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 3: they play today or tomorrow? 32 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: Excuse nobody today, so they can't lose today, So that's. 33 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 3: Also good news. But I'm talking about who do they 34 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 3: play tomorrow? Yeah? 35 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: No, I know the Marlins are coming into town. They'll 36 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: have their home opener. Maybe that'll give them some extra juices. 37 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: On the back side of that, though, you get the Phillies. 38 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 4: No, but listen, in twenty sixteen, we started to nine. 39 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 4: Guess that we beat the Indus streak in not tie 40 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 4: history the Miami Marlins. 41 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 3: So here we go, here we go. Now they can 42 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 3: lose three and get to ten. That'll be really bad. 43 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 4: But no team has ever made the playoffs after starting 44 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 4: oh to seven. Certain people named Ken Rosenthal picked the 45 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 4: Braves to win the World Series. I would never do 46 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 4: that because that seems crazy now, But can they rebound 47 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 4: enough to make even make a run at the playoffs 48 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 4: because Owen seven is a large hole. 49 00:01:59,120 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 3: To they got them. 50 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, it definitely is. And I think everybody's seen the 51 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: stat now that no team has started Owen seven and 52 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: then gone on to go to the playoffs. In fact, 53 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 1: I've seen even more stats than only a handful of them. 54 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: Of the twenty eight teams that have ever started out 55 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: Owens seven for a season have even gotten over five hundred. 56 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: So there's a steep hill to climb, There's no two 57 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: ways about it. And I don't know how it slipped 58 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: my mind. You were around for twenty sixteen. That was 59 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: a club that was in the midst of trying to 60 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: rebuild itself. Meanwhile, this is a club that, as you 61 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 1: just pointed out, has World Series expectations, aspirations and all 62 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: of that. Is a very different scene for them. So 63 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: can they rebound? Yes, because I think there are more 64 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: talented teams than they're playing, like, that's a pretty obvious statement. 65 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: They're gonna get Ronald Lacuna Junior back, They're gonna get 66 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: Spencer Strider back, they may have Sean Murphy back by 67 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: next week. That could help as well. But they've got 68 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: to start hitting, and I think that's been the real 69 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: question year over year for this club. They pitched lights 70 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: out a year ago. I think the pitching can be 71 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: good this year, expecting it to be what it was 72 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: last year. Maybe a bit much, but you got Austin Riley, 73 00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: Mattels and Marcelo Zuna, Michael Harris, Ozzy albs add A 74 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: Kunya back in there. Even without Profar. This lineup has 75 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: serious teeth, but it has been if you're part of 76 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: the pun pretty much toothless for much of this year, 77 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: and that's just not going to play. Even getting up 78 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: on the Dodgers in that finale trying to avoid the 79 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: H to seven, they still weren't really able to take 80 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: advantage of all the opportunities that they had, and it 81 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: ended up being pretty costly. 82 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 5: I know it's the lineup right now, not scoring runs 83 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 5: all that stuff. Maybe we'll get to the lineup. But 84 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,239 Speaker 5: do you feel like this pitching staff when they built 85 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 5: this team, whether it was ownership, you know, denying them 86 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 5: money to be able to build this pitching staff, do 87 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 5: you feel like they kind of hoped they would do 88 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 5: good or is this just another the Braves always churn 89 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 5: out because this is what I said before, Braves always 90 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 5: churn out pitching no matter who it is. You can 91 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 5: look in recent history Schwellenbach, Smith Shaber. You have Bryce 92 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 5: Elder was an All Star. I know he fell off 93 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 5: some Ian Anderson was the was the hero for the 94 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 5: World Series. Were they just hoping or do they really 95 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 5: have a plan with what this pitching staff's going to 96 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 5: be Strider comes back? 97 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean that's obviously up for debate and critique 98 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,839 Speaker 1: at this point. Because they went over the offseason, I think, 99 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: knowing that they had some definite needs there, they pursued 100 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: Jeff Hoffman. They backed out of that deal. I think 101 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: the Orioles did as well. They turned their attention to 102 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:16,799 Speaker 1: Tanner Scott, who at least would have helped the bullpen 103 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 1: that lost aj Mentor and Joe Jimenez may not pitch 104 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 1: this year, so that was kind of a double whammy. 105 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: And then there really wasn't a Plan C or Plan D. 106 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: And I know you're not trying to force deals and 107 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: signed players to contracts. It maybe you don't see the 108 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: fit or it doesn't make sense, but is there nothing 109 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:33,799 Speaker 1: else out there? And I know it's hard to trade 110 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: when your farm system has really been used a lot 111 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: as trade capital of the past few years and you 112 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: don't have the kind of prospects that you had a 113 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: few years ago. But I think that's kind of the 114 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: question that I would come back to, is was this 115 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: a case of At the start of the off season, 116 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: Alex Antopolos said, Look, payroll has gone up every year 117 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: that I've been here. We anticipate that that could be 118 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: the case this year. Again, we anticipate that. I don't 119 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: know if expectation is the same thing as anticipation, but 120 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: they got to be neighbors at least, and that just 121 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: didn't happen far. Signing was what two to three weeks 122 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: before spring training, So to that point, I think a 123 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 1: lot of Braves fans were looking around wondering, are we 124 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: going to do anything this offseason besides hope and besides 125 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: Wade on Ron Lacuney Junior and Spencer Strider to get back. 126 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: So yeah, I think this is going to be an 127 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 1: ongoing debate about what could have been done over the offseason, 128 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: why wasn't it done? Because the Braves very profitable. The 129 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: battery is quite a popular scene and has helped them 130 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: print money the past few years. You want to see 131 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: that go back into the product. And even with a 132 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: top ten payroll, which they do have and they didn't always, 133 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: they're still room to I think invest more in this club. 134 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: Despite having a great core signed up long term, you're 135 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: a move or two away from maybe putting this club 136 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: over the top. And I think that's what's so difficult 137 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 1: for people to look at and say, why wouldn't you 138 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: do that? 139 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 4: We asked that about a lot of teams. Grant trust me, 140 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 4: why wouldn't you do that? But the answer is nobody 141 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 4: knows except for the owner. 142 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 3: So I don't know. 143 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 4: Maybe one day, when you own a team, we can 144 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 4: I can be your co owner and we can make 145 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 4: the moves that we want to make to try. 146 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 3: To make people happy. If that happens, it'd be awesome. 147 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: I love it. 148 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: I'd love it. 149 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 2: I hope you have as much confidence as Penelope right now, 150 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 2: who is an avid Spot and Tango fan, Okay, and 151 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: she uses the code foul crats because this is a 152 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: personalized dog food subscription service that prevents you, of course 153 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: from going to the store to pick up the food, 154 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 2: and she just gets the highest quality unkibble. That is 155 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: what they're known for. And I know you love the 156 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: quiz part of it too. 157 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 5: It's a super quick quiz, but it lets you give 158 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 5: them the information and they tailor it to what is 159 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 5: needed based on their age, size, activity level. All things 160 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 5: that are customed for each and every one of your dogs. 161 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, human great ingredients in that unkibble USDA meat, fruits 162 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 2: and veggies that are approved. There no artificial stuff, no preservatives. 163 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 2: They've got the exclusive deal for the ft fam for 164 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,119 Speaker 2: unlimited time. Go to spotan tango dot com slash foul 165 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: use code foul to get fifty percent off your first order. 166 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: That's spotan tango dot com slash foul. It's spotan tango 167 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 2: dot com slat foul, quote foul. 168 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 4: We're talking pitching. You're talking pitching and the injuries and 169 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 4: the pitching and win Stryder come back. But what about 170 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 4: the offense. The offense has been awful. They weren't very good. Lad, 171 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 4: here's the thing. The offense wasn't great last year either. 172 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 4: So this is now going on two years in a 173 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 4: row after historic years of you know, these young guys 174 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 4: coming out and playing and doing all these things, and 175 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 4: then the last couple of years, the offense has been 176 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 4: offensive and they haven't scored a lot of runs. And 177 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 4: I did the game in San Diego and at the time, 178 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 4: I think they made it to like one for thirty 179 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 4: something with runners in score position right, And they scored 180 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 4: five runs last night, but they were all unearned. I 181 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 4: believe they were all Dodger mistakes. So where's the offense. 182 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 4: Where's Austin Riley? Where's all of these I know Acune 183 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 4: is out, but where's Olsen? 184 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 3: Where? 185 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 4: Where are these guys that you know that they've been 186 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 4: counting Michael Harris, where the heck is he? These guys 187 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 4: they've counted on for years they've built their core on. 188 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 3: Where'd it go? 189 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: I think outside of Marcelo Zuna, it's pretty fair to 190 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,119 Speaker 1: question the last you know, year plus of this club 191 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: because they simply have not performed. Even before Acuna got 192 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: hurt a year ago, he was having an incredibly down year. 193 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: I think he had what two home runs heading to 194 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: the last week of May. That wasn't the guy that 195 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: went forty seventy And he's not even back yet. So 196 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: we'll put him in a box over to the side, 197 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: because he should make this club better. But Michael Harris, 198 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: Austin Riley, Matt Olson, I mean, Ozzy Alb's. The list 199 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: goes on. These are guys you expect to be rum 200 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: producers and they weren't a year ago. And the Braves 201 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: they made this change at hitting coach, and you know, 202 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: you guys played, You've got a much more you know, 203 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: intimate look at how this stuff works. I'm sure changing 204 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: the message and the voice and the delivery and looking 205 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: into other things can be helpful, but I don't think 206 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: you can lay it at the feet of the hitting 207 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: coach and you know, point at him and say, look, 208 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: all these guys forgot how to hit, and it's your fault. 209 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 1: I don't really know what the answer, though, is. Besides, 210 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: I know that pressing is certainly natural. I talked to 211 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 1: Austin Riley, matt Olsen a few guys last year throughout 212 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: the course of the season, and they said, look, we 213 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: all want to be the guy that comes up with 214 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: a hit that wins the game, that wins the series, 215 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: that turns our season around. But you can't do it 216 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: every single bat, and you can't take that up there 217 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: with you. I feel like they almost have to be 218 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: kind of minimalist, if that's possible. I know, this is 219 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: a game that will just beat you down when you're 220 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: carrying this around with you. But that, I think, as 221 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: much as anything, is the problem because physically they're in 222 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: the prime of their careers. So it doesn't really make 223 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: any sense to watch everybody slump or fall off to 224 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: this degree, to regress to this degree for as long 225 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: as they have. 226 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: How much of a bummer is the Profar news? And 227 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 2: what was your reaction when you saw that, as well 228 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 2: as the reaction from Braves country, Because this guy had 229 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 2: a ton of success last year. It was by far 230 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 2: the best year of his life in baseball, and Braves 231 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 2: fans don't have the connection to him. You know, Padres 232 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,199 Speaker 2: fans fell in love with Profar last year. But it's 233 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: not like Braves fans are going to be defending any 234 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 2: iota of what just happened. 235 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 1: Right, No, No, he doesn't have that kind of equity 236 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,319 Speaker 1: with this club. But I mean, I will say when 237 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: he came in and spring training, that first impression that 238 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,599 Speaker 1: everybody got of him was, Hey, this guy's part of 239 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: the solution. You know, I know that the vibe that 240 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: he brought to the club was energetic, was upbeat, was 241 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: the kind of thing that you're feeling like, Okay, we 242 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 1: want to energize this club a little bit. We need 243 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: somebody to help us out at lead off with no 244 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: Ron Lakuny Junior and Alexandoppolos said this on the record 245 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: several times. When they identified hitters over the course of 246 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: the winner that they liked, it was obviously Juan Soto 247 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: and then a large gap, and then they felt like 248 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: Jerkson Profar was maybe that guy to circle back to 249 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: depending on how his market shook out. They got that 250 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: deal done clearly. I think there's some buyer beware when 251 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: an over thirty player, you know, breaks out or has 252 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 1: that career year and you kind of wonder, well, can 253 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 1: he replicate that? But they felt like all the advanced metrics, 254 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: the underlying data said sure, we think he can, and 255 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: a three year deal makes sense. And then something like 256 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:27,719 Speaker 1: this happens, and now I don't know what kind of 257 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: player you're truly getting, and I think it's fair to question. 258 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: And this has been going on for a long time 259 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: and a jerks and profile is not the only guy 260 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: that's gotten himself into this kind of hot water. But 261 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: I don't know really. You know, if there's a way 262 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: to get over this very quickly, it's going to be 263 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: a very steep hill for him to climb to kind 264 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: of win back the club that he hasn't been a 265 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: part of for very long. But yeah, I think for 266 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: fans watching a club you struggle to score as much 267 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: as this team did and then lose a guy that's 268 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: supposed to be part of the fix for this team, 269 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 1: it's an extra level of frustration that I don't think 270 00:10:57,800 --> 00:10:59,199 Speaker 1: they're going to get over anytime soon. 271 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 2: Because this is such a bad start, and I don't 272 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: want to go too hard on the history grant because 273 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 2: we have three wildcard teams these days, so it's not 274 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: impossible for the Braves to go zero to seven and 275 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 2: then bounce back. You and I spoke about this. I 276 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,719 Speaker 2: said two and five, maybe even one in six on 277 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,719 Speaker 2: this trip, and I'm like, I'm still not going to 278 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 2: be worried. I am not too concerned yet. I'm with aj. 279 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 2: I think they could beat up the Marlins this weekend. 280 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 2: My question is, though, do you think that they speed 281 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: up the Ronald d'acunya junior rehab process because they feel 282 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 2: like they might have to get them back sooner to 283 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 2: win a few extra games to sneak into the playoffs. 284 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: Right. 285 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 2: I know it's super early, but these are seven losses 286 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,679 Speaker 2: and it's a very competitive National League. The Padres look 287 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 2: like they're going to be better than many anticipated, The 288 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 2: Giants look like they could be better than anticipated. These 289 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 2: are all potential wild card contenders with Atlanta. So do 290 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 2: you think that they will look at this and say, 291 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: we're being so cautious with Akunya, but he is, so 292 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 2: let's get his bat back in the damn lineup. 293 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 3: Yeah? 294 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: I wish, or I think and I'm sure that they 295 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: wish that there was a clearer path to bring him back. 296 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: But your DH is Marcelo Azuna. He's your best hitter. 297 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: Do you dare maybe put him in the outfield some 298 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 1: which he by the way, hasn't played and going on 299 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 1: two years? Do you want to roll the dice and 300 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: put him out there? What if something happens to Marcel 301 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: and then he gets hurt and now you're without Azuna 302 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: and Acuna wasn't all the way back, So we could 303 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: probably come up with a lot of what if scenarios. 304 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: But if that dhpot was open, I think they might 305 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 1: be more open to that idea, but the fact is 306 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: they need him to come back and be the regular 307 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 1: right fielder. He said, Physically he was ninety ninety five 308 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: percent when he showed up for spring training, but he's 309 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: just now looking to get cleared for the running drills. 310 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: He needs to do more outfield work and then obviously 311 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 1: the rehab assignment. So, to make a long story short 312 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: as I can, I just don't see them pushing his 313 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 1: timetable up by very much. But if he physically checks 314 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: all the boxes and passes all the tests and feels 315 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: like he's ready and he can make the team better, 316 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: I think at that point you do have to kind 317 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 1: of look around and say, Okay, well why not because 318 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: the alternative is just kind of churning through a lot 319 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: of fourth and fifth outfielder types, and I don't think 320 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: that's gonna help energize the offense the way that an 321 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: MVP caliber player like Ronald Lacuna Junior certainly could both 322 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: on the field and also I think the momentum that 323 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 1: he could bring with him to just kind of lift 324 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 1: the spirits of this club at a time where they 325 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:18,679 Speaker 1: could very much use all that they can get. 326 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 5: Do you think Brian Snitker is going to be the 327 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 5: manager again next year. 328 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: That's a really good question, and I've gotten that one 329 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: a lot, and I've kind of wondered about it. I mean, 330 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: next year would be fifty years in the Braves organization. 331 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 1: Does he need that to cap it all off? No, 332 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: but it's a nice round number. I kind of wondered 333 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: if this might be his last year, just based on 334 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: the last couple of seasons and how trying twenty twenty 335 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: four was. But then they got knocked out of the 336 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: playoffs and the first thing he said was I can't 337 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: wait to be back at spring training, and that's it's 338 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: just who he is. So I wouldn't be surprised if 339 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: he does decide at some point this year, especially if 340 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: things kind of continue to spiral or go out of control. 341 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 1: If he doesn't make that decision himself, but one more 342 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: year and beyond that, I think you're probably looking at 343 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: that transitional period and they're looking at a new perhaps 344 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 1: a new manager at that point. So I know that's 345 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: a really long answer to say. I don't know, but 346 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: it's just hard to tell right now. I think that 347 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,599 Speaker 1: how this season plays out might inform that decision. A 348 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: lot for Brian Snicker at this stage in his life. 349 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 3: Grant I asked him this on Saturday. 350 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 4: I asked him, I said, hey, I was sitting with 351 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 4: Snitt and who I played for, and I said, hey, 352 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 4: you know, what do you think? And he gave the 353 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 4: exact answer. I don't know, but I know this. He 354 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 4: did say, the fifty years does mean something. So you 355 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 4: can say doesn't mean anything, why does it matter? But 356 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 4: think about fifty years in one organization, the only organization 357 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 4: Brian Sticker has ever known. 358 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 3: Fifty years with that organization. Yeah, and think about it. 359 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 4: He's going to be part of the organization one way 360 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 4: or the other. But he's been fifty years on the 361 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 4: field with this organization, not just fifty years in the 362 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 4: organization on a field. So I think that does mean 363 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 4: something to him. Do I think it's enough to make 364 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 4: him come back. 365 00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 3: I don't know. 366 00:14:58,360 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 4: He also at the same time was like, I want 367 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 4: to see my grandkids play and I want to spend 368 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 4: time with my family. I've never got to travel at O. 369 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 4: There's places I want to do, things I want to do. 370 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,239 Speaker 4: So I don't know, but I think in some capacity 371 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 4: he'll make the fifty years, Whether it's you know, special 372 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 4: assistant or whatever it is, or manager. I think it's 373 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 4: kind of going to be up to him unless they go, 374 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 4: oh in one sixty two, which I don't think is 375 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 4: going to happen. 376 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I don't think that's going to happen. But 377 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: think about this start for Brian Snitger as far as 378 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: the managing coaching side is concerned. His playing career was 379 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: just a few years and then Hank Aaron calls him 380 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: up and says, hey, we think a lot of you 381 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: would you like to join an organization as a coach. 382 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: I mean, that's how far back his history goes, how 383 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: deep those roots are. Obviously all the time he spent 384 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: under Bobby Cox, He's managed or coached at virtually every 385 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: level and every affiliate the Braves have had for that 386 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: fifty years or played there. So I would think that 387 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: fifty's pretty meaningful for him. But you know, I know 388 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: he does love being a grandfather, a husband, and you know, 389 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: like everybody, he'd probably like to take a vacation when 390 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: it's warm outside. So we'll see what happens. 391 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's true. Grant. Great to have you as always, 392 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,239 Speaker 2: and we'll see if things improved this weekend for the Bravos. 393 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 2: Check out Grant on Twitter and follow all of his 394 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 2: shows and everything that he does at Grant McCaulay on Twitter. 395 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: Thank you, Grant, Thanks guys, Always a pleasure.