1 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: He says, a great game or what with the Hall 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: of Favorite Tim Kirchen. I'm his son, Jeff Kirchen and 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Dad the Super bowls behind us, which means the only 4 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: thing we can think about is pitchers and catchers. 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 2: Whooa right the day after the Super Bowl, Jeff is 6 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 2: the official, at least for me, beginning of the baseball season. 7 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 2: Spring training is my favorite time of year. We'll get 8 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 2: into that here in a minute, But Jeff, I wanted 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 2: to tell you something. I spoke at Carson, your godson, 10 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 2: my grandson, oldest grandson. Now he's five, and I was 11 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: asked to come into class and speak to the kids about, 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: you know, athletics, staying in shape, and I shaped it 13 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 2: to talk about baseball players, like what an amazing athlete 14 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: Jackie Robinson was because he played a sport in every season, basketball, 15 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 2: base ball, football, never stopped playing all of those sports 16 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: made him a better baseball player because of the athleticism involved. 17 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 2: So after going through about ten guys, I got to 18 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: show he Otani and to Aaron Judge. So the kids 19 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 2: were amazingly attentive, Jeff, not because my stuff was like mesmerizing. 20 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: Believe me, it's a tribute to the teachers, especially Miss Ashley, 21 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 2: who was just completely in control of the kids. Twenty 22 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: kids four and five years old. So I get to 23 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: Aaron Judge and I start talking about how big he 24 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: is and how athletic he is. I said, he's six seven. 25 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: So one of the kids at the back of the room, well, 26 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: he's right in front of me. It goes like this, 27 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 2: six seven, six seven, and now the entire this is 28 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 2: the only time we lost control of the of the 29 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: class is when I gave Aaron Judges height is legit 30 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: height six seven, And then everyone in the class was 31 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: going like this, Now, please, Jeb, I know I'm the 32 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: I'm the oldest man in the world. What does that mean? 33 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 2: Carson has been saying this, what does it? Is there 34 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 2: a meaning behind six seven? 35 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: You should have known better than to say those numbers. 36 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 2: Well, bunch of five year olds, they got it immediately, 37 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 2: and every one of them was like laughing and screaming, 38 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: six seven, what does that mean? 39 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: You know, Dad, There's gonna come a time in my 40 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,119 Speaker 1: life where I'm not gonna be able to explain this 41 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: to you, because I myself am gonna be so distanced 42 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,239 Speaker 1: from the youth of America that I'm not gonna be 43 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: able to know it because I'm already thirty two. I 44 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: got a kid with one on the way, so before 45 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 1: I know it, I'm gonna be the uh not knowing 46 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: so much, you know, dad in the room. But from 47 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 1: what I know, it's from a song, and it's like 48 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 1: kind of saying like, oh, it's just fine, like six 49 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: seven out of ten. So if you were like, oh, 50 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,959 Speaker 1: I went out to dinner, how was it six seven? 51 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: Like it was just okay, like a six or seven 52 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: out of ten. That is my understanding. Now, Listen, that 53 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: could totally be wrong. That could totally be off. I 54 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: could be so wrong on this one. But ultimately that's 55 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: my understanding of it. Well the takeaways, what. 56 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 2: Have we got here? Well, we're just gonna talk about 57 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 2: spring training, Jeff, because again, it's my favorite time of year. 58 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 2: Everyone's in a great mood, howevery rookie looks great, every 59 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 2: veteran is healthy, the weather's great, you get out of 60 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 2: the cold and the snow and everything else. I love it. 61 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: But Jeff, what I love more than anything about spring 62 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 2: training and used to be like this a long time ago, 63 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: much more than now. It's just that things happen in 64 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: spring training that can't happen any other time because it's 65 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 2: spring training. There are bus trips and everything else. So 66 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: many years ago, Brian Anderson, pitcher for the Indians, was 67 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 2: going on a trip from winter Haven to somewhere else 68 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: and they were like thirty minutes out of winter Haven 69 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: and he realized that he left his hat, his spikes, 70 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: and his glove back at the clubhouse and he's the 71 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 2: starting pitcher that day, so he borrows somebody's hat. He 72 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 2: goes to the store and buys a pair of spikes, 73 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: and then he can't find a glove. So he goes 74 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: to Walmart and he thinks, Walmart, they have tires, they 75 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 2: have produce, they must have a baseball glove. So he 76 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 2: bought a softball glove as he could put it, twenty 77 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 2: nine dollars. He said it was the biggest glove ever. 78 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 2: It was bigger than one of those you know, highlight 79 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 2: whatever that thing is, those canastas or whatever that thing 80 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,559 Speaker 2: is called. He said, it's the biggest glove I've ever seen. 81 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: It was almost as big as Greg Maddox's glove, which 82 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: was a shot at Greg Maddox, who used the biggest 83 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 2: glove ever and is one of the greatest fielding maybe 84 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 2: the greatest fielding pitcher of all time. And Brian Anderson, 85 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 2: in full uniform, went in and bought a glove at 86 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: Walmart and then went out and pitched in a major 87 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: league game with a glove he had just bought, and 88 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: he got five comebackers in five innings, he told me, 89 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 2: which is just wow. But Jeff, that story can only 90 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 2: happen in spring training, because only in spring training at 91 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 2: least back then are you getting on a bus and driving, 92 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 2: you know, an hour and a half to make it, 93 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 2: or sometimes three hours to go pitch somewhere. Agreed, Well, Dad, 94 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 2: I'll tell you this much. 95 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: The compliment on the Maddox glove at the end of 96 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: the day is the biggest compliment because he was a 97 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: great defender and his glove was the size of my chest. 98 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 2: Right big glove. Great great pitching, great hands, great hands, 99 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 2: Greg Maddox, great athlete. All that, all right, Speaking of pitchers, Jeff, 100 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 2: Jeremy Guthrie one of my favorite pitchers, one of my 101 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 2: favorite players that I've ever been around. He used to 102 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: ride his bike to the ballpark every day in Arizona, 103 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 2: which you probably can't do in the regular season, but 104 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 2: in spring training he did it. And Michael Kadire told 105 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: me the story once and Jeremy confirmed it. That Jeremy, 106 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 2: when he's playing for the Rockies, rode his bike to 107 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: a start, Okay, started the game and then rode his 108 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 2: bike back to the spring training facility in full uniform 109 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 2: and with his glove over his hand of Mars and yeah, 110 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: and Michael Kadyer said it was like it was like 111 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 2: a scene from the Sandlot. And yes, that's what Jeremy 112 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 2: Guthrie did. He rode his bike every day because it 113 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 2: kept him in such great shape. He made a spring 114 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: training start and then drove back to the facility on 115 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 2: his bicycle is in uniform. Is that the greatest thing ever? 116 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,239 Speaker 1: Absolutely, That's what spring training is all about. 117 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 2: Right there. 118 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: That's why I love spring tra right. 119 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: And again that's not happening obviously during the regular season. 120 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,799 Speaker 2: And also Sid Fernandez used to pitch for the Mets 121 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: a million years ago. Jeff, he was a good left 122 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 2: handed pitcher. But they had just built the new ballpark 123 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 2: in Port Saint Lucy, Florida, and it was built like 124 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: on like a swampland or something, so back then, pitchers 125 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 2: would get their exercise by like running through the woods 126 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: and all that. Sid Fernandez tells the story that he's 127 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 2: running through the woods of this former swamp land they 128 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: just built a spring training facility on it, and he 129 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: ran into a warthog who chased him out of the woods. 130 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: And Sid was like screaming at teammates, there's a monster 131 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: in there because a war hog like ran him out 132 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 2: of the run. Booma, you are. 133 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: A pig, Bumba, you are a pig, dead dead the 134 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: warhog aspect of this, I don't think warthogs are native 135 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: of the United States. He said it was a ward hoog, 136 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: and that's what makes the story. 137 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 2: So much better. 138 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: He didn't know he's a baseball player. He doesn't know 139 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: what he saw. He doesn't know what he was running from. 140 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: But I wouldn't look at it in the eye, that's 141 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: for sure, Jeff. 142 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: Would you know what a ward hog was if he 143 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 2: chased you out of the woods. 144 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: When I was a young wart hog? 145 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 2: When I was a young ward hog? 146 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: Now, I mean, I think I definitely look more like 147 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: Nathan Lane and Timone than I would like Pumba, that's 148 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: for sure. Umba. 149 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 2: I love that pick so spring training nineteen sixty nine. 150 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 2: I want to say Ted Williams is the manager, and 151 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: we use a bad word here, Jeff, we'll bleep it out. 152 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 2: But Ted Williams was not a great manager, but of 153 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: course one of the one of the two greatest hitters 154 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: of all time for me and nobody, but nobody understood 155 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 2: the science the art of hitting better than Ted Williams period, 156 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 2: No One in the history of the game. And I 157 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 2: really believe he did three point fifty today. I really 158 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: believe that. So but they had an alter kate. They 159 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 2: had a drill in spring training on a rundown play, 160 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 2: and two of the coaches were running the drill and 161 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 2: they were arguing about the best way to run the 162 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,199 Speaker 2: rundown drill. Do you know, do you run the runner 163 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 2: back to third? What do you do with it? How 164 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: many throws? That type of thing? And finally they kept arguing, 165 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 2: so they said, well, we better get Ted to settle 166 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 2: the argument, so we know exactly how he wants to 167 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 2: run the rundown drills. So Ted comes out, he listens 168 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 2: to the two arguments. He is absolutely disgusted, and he says, 169 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 2: bleep and let's hit And he called off the drill 170 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 2: and started batting practice. That's how uninterested he was in 171 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 2: the rundown drill. Don't care, right, he didn't care, and 172 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 2: like those drills aren't taking place anymore like during the 173 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 2: regular season. These are things that only happen during spring 174 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 2: training and of course spring trading. You know, there's so 175 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 2: many players in camp it's impossible to keep track. But 176 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 2: I remember a guy named Scott Meyer. He was a 177 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 2: non roster catcher for the A's in nineteen eighty and 178 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 2: they had so many players in camp that they ran 179 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: out of numbers, so he wore number one hundred. He 180 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 2: had a three three digit numbers. Scott Meyer, number one hundred, 181 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 2: non roster catcher for the A's. 182 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: I love it, also, Dad, I mean, we could do 183 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: from Burley. 184 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 2: To Right to Scott Meyer number one hundred, right, pretty good. 185 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 2: Instead of Burley to Behemoth, we would go Burley Scott Meyer. 186 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: It doesn't really ring quite the same way, right. 187 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 2: The Red Sox moved to Fort Myers for spring trading, 188 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: not to Jet Blue Park where they are right now. 189 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 2: But when they moved to Fort Myers they played an 190 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 2: exhibition game. Again, this really can o well, maybe this 191 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 2: could happen during the regular season, but the Yankees played 192 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 2: the Red Sox in an exhibition game in Fort Myers 193 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 2: and apparently there was a knockdown, drag out fight in 194 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 2: the parking lot between a Yankee fan and a Red 195 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 2: Sox fan, and they were both women in bucking, Jeff, 196 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 2: that doesn't imply the women aren't tough, they don't never 197 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 2: get to fight. I just found it kind of funny that, 198 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: you know, twenty five years ago or something, there was 199 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 2: a brawl in the parking lot on a spring trading game. 200 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 2: The two people fighting were both women. Am I supposed 201 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 2: to get a kick out of that or not? No? 202 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: I mean just passion runs male or female, especially Boston 203 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: against New York. 204 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: I'm here for it right. Also, when I covered the Rangers, 205 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 2: Jeff in I started in nineteen eighty two. In nineteen 206 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 2: eighty three, Doug Rader became the manager, the mischievous Doug 207 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 2: Raider who was so funny, so smart, taught me so 208 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 2: much about the game. But right across the right, beyond 209 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 2: the right field fence at Municipal Stadium in Pompano Beach, Florida, 210 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 2: where the Rangers train was a like a small airport, 211 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: and it was where they parked a blimp. So Doug 212 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 2: Rader and some of his coaches went up in the blimp. 213 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 2: Of course, someone else was driving it, although it wouldn't 214 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 2: surprise me if Doug Rader tried to drive the blimp, 215 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 2: even though he'd never done that before, and he knew 216 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,839 Speaker 2: where all of his buddies were, the other coaches and stuff. 217 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 2: They were out at an outdoor place like drink a 218 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 2: beer after a game on a Saturday, and over right 219 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 2: over top the restaurant comes the blimp and Doug Raider 220 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 2: is like screaming down at his buddies. Hey, look where 221 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 2: we are. We're up at the blimp. This can only 222 00:12:57,679 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 2: happen in spring trading. 223 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: Would you ever go in one of those now. 224 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 2: Jeff, As you know, I am petrified of heights. I'm 225 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 2: not going anywhere that where I could possibly fall or 226 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 2: anything like that. A couple others, Jeff, you know, the 227 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 2: rules are really laxed for the most part in spring training. 228 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 2: I think I told you this, But my my friend 229 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 2: Ron Petrella many years ago. He was a big Pirates fan, 230 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 2: so he asked for tickets to a Pirate's exhibition game, 231 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 2: like right at the end of spring training, and it 232 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 2: was being held at RFK Stadium in Washington, So I 233 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 2: arranged for him to get tickets to come in to 234 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 2: watch the Pirates play the Orioles. Okay, so he gets 235 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: his they get there and the tickets aren't there, And 236 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 2: because it's so fouled up because RFK is not used 237 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 2: to doing this, you know, in nineteen eighty nine, because 238 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 2: it doesn't have a major league team, then they give 239 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 2: him this this pass that gets him on the field 240 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 2: to pretty much wherever he wants to go. So he 241 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 2: uses the path and goes down and walks on the 242 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 2: field before the game and he's watching batting practice. He's 243 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 2: just a regular fan who's supposed to have a regular ticket. 244 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 2: Instead he's got all. He's got everything that a media 245 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 2: member like myself would have. So batting practice is over, 246 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: the game's about to start, so it's so lax and 247 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 2: so laid back. He goes into the Pirates dugout and 248 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: watches the entire game in street clothes. From the Pirates dugout, 249 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 2: he's like high five and Jim Leland and you know, 250 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 2: and Annidan's like and all these guys because and they 251 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: I said, Ron, did they not know that? Who did 252 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 2: they think you? He said, I don't think they had 253 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 2: any idea who I was. They must have thought I 254 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 2: was like the owner's son or something, so they didn't 255 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 2: kick me out. So he watched an entire game from 256 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 2: the Pirates dugout. And of course I wrote all of 257 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 2: this the next day in the Baltimore Sun because I 258 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 2: just found it so funny that a fan went to 259 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 2: the exhibition game yesterday and ended upstand. So Ron goes 260 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 2: to opening Day the next day, the real opening day 261 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 2: at Memorial Stadium, and he's sitting next to a guy 262 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 2: in the upper deck of the upper The guy in 263 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 2: the upper deck says, did you see that story in 264 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 2: the paper about the guy who sat in the dugout? 265 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 2: And Rob Petrelli goes, yeah, that was me. Ah, incredible 266 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: only in spring training. And last one, Jeff, again, all 267 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 2: sorts of new acquaintances are made in spring training when 268 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 2: you meet a guy for the first time, maybe played 269 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 2: against him, but he's new to the team, and then 270 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: it comes to all the camaraderie and get the guy 271 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 2: used to playing. So I'm sure I told you this, Jeff, 272 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 2: But Luis Castillo really good little second basement for a while, 273 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 2: join the Minnesota Twins, and they put his locker right 274 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 2: next to Michael Kadire. Michael Kadyre was a veteran Twin 275 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 2: and like the team leader and the best guy, and 276 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: the guy you want to if anyone's going to teach 277 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 2: you how to do things like this is how we 278 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 2: do it here, it's Michael Cadire. That's how great a 279 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 2: teammate he was. Michael Candire, as I also told you, 280 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 2: Jeff was a brilliant magician. So he's sitting next to 281 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 2: Louis Castillo one day and explaining all sorts of things, 282 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 2: and then he does a couple of magic tricks for 283 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 2: Louis Castillo that were so good that it really frightened 284 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 2: Louis Castillo like, oh my gosh, Like who is this guy? 285 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 2: He must be a sorcerer or something like that. How 286 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 2: how is he able to do that? So the next day, 287 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 2: Michael Kadire walks in and Luis Castillo has moved his 288 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 2: locker all the way across the room because. 289 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: I didn't want to be next. 290 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 2: I didn't want to sit next to Michael Cardire because 291 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 2: he thought there was some witchcraft or something involved. Ah, 292 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 2: that is incredible, Oh, Jeff again the beauty of spring training. 293 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 2: All sorts of things happen that can't happen really any 294 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 2: other time of year, because spring training is that different. 295 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 2: It used to be way, way way different. Today, of 296 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 2: course it's much more buttoned up and things like that. 297 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 2: But back then, boy, all sorts of crazy things happened 298 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 2: in spring training. If you just kept your eyes open, 299 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 2: there's no telling what you might see, no doubt about it. 300 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: In spring training is upon us. Baseball fans were really 301 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: pumped right. 302 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 2: A couple other takeaways, Jeff Mickey Lolich died. Mickey Lolich 303 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 2: was a really good left handed pitcher. Fifth most strikeouts 304 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 2: ever by a left handed pitcher in baseball history. You 305 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 2: won two hundred and seventeen games, and that doesn't count 306 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 2: the three games that he won in the nineteen sixty 307 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 2: eight World Series to beat the Cardinals in the World Series. 308 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 2: Mickey Lolich had one of the great World Series ever. 309 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 2: And Jeff back in, you know, if you pitch two 310 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 2: hundred innings today, you're a workhorse, you're a warrior. He 311 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 2: pitched three hundred and seventy six innings. Jeff. In nineteen 312 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 2: seventy one, we told you about Wilbur Wood a couple 313 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 2: of weeks ago doing something like that. But he was 314 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 2: a knuckleballer. I mean, Mickey Lowlis threw pretty hard. And 315 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 2: then when he retired, Jeff, I just love this, he 316 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 2: opened a donut shop. He went from pitcher to a 317 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 2: guy who opened a donut shop. How about that? That's 318 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 2: so special. A couple other things, Jeff. Terrence Gore died. 319 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 2: Terrence Gore was a very fast outfielder who played for 320 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 2: a bunch of teams. He won three different World Series. 321 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 2: He was on three different World Series teams, the Dodgers, 322 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 2: the Braves, and the Kids City Royals, and so he 323 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 2: had three championships. And he was mostly a defensive replacement 324 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 2: and a pinch runner, mostly a pinch runner because he 325 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 2: could fly. But he had sixteen hits in his career, 326 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 2: sixteen in his regular season career and won three rings 327 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 2: at that crazy yeah, now that's just but really sad. 328 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 2: He went in for a routine operation of some sort 329 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 2: and he never came out. He was thirty four years old, 330 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 2: and what a wonderful guy. I knew him pretty well, 331 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 2: and I know his teammates just adored him. So rest 332 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 2: in peace, Terrence. Score and last one Jeff Buck Martinez. 333 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 2: Our dear friend Buck Martinez has retired. Buck Martinez spent 334 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 2: forty five years in the Blue Jays organization. Was one 335 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 2: of the best color guys of all time on TV. Jeff. 336 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 2: He played in nineteen his major league debut came in 337 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: nineteen sixty nine, and he was closely involved in baseball 338 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 2: through twenty twenty five. I mean, count up the years, 339 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 2: Jeff and Jeff. He wasn't just a broadcaster, of course, 340 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 2: he was a very good defensive catcher in his time. 341 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 2: He was a major league manager for the Blue Jays. 342 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 2: He worked at ESPN while I was there. I had 343 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,679 Speaker 2: many great nights with him where we just talked baseball, 344 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 2: and I love this about him, Jeff. When he retired 345 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 2: as a baseball player, he decided I want to go 346 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 2: into broadcasting. And instead of just showing up and saying, hey, 347 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 2: I'm here, give me a job, he sat on the 348 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 2: roof of the ballpark in spring training and and did 349 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 2: games into his microphone with nobody listening into a tape recorder, 350 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 2: just practicing for the day that somebody was going to 351 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 2: give him a chance to be a real color broadcaster 352 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 2: on baseball games. Buck Martinez was great at it and 353 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 2: one of the best ever. And I'm so sad to 354 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 2: see him go, but good for him. You know, he 355 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 2: beat cancer, he's fighting all sorts of things and he's 356 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 2: just decided it's time to retire. We're really really gonna 357 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: miss Buck Martinez. 358 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: Well, let that be a lesson to the kids out there, 359 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: because I know we have a lot of college age, 360 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 1: high school age kids that may be listening and, you know, 361 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: wondering how they can be the next big baseball broadcaster. 362 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: Even Buck Martinez, former player, former manager, is sitting there 363 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: recording on to a microphone, trying to get better, get 364 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: the reps. Do what you can. I mean, trust me, 365 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: we've had plenty of reps here on is this a 366 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 1: great game or what? And if you listen back to 367 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 1: episode one, I don't recommend doing and I'd go back 368 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: to season one right And Jeff, I told you about 369 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: my dear friend Mark Holts, who died many years ago, 370 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: great broadcaster. When he was like thirteen years old, he 371 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: would take the Giants game from the San Francisco Giants 372 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: game from the night before because that was his team, 373 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: and he would recreate the game every single game and 374 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: read it and do the game into his microphone. And 375 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: he even had his dad, Paul Holtz played the national 376 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: anthem on the piano before the game started, so he 377 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,679 Speaker 1: would throw to his father and say, all right, and 378 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:00,679 Speaker 1: now the national anthem, here's Paul Holtz. So Mark Fos 379 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: was doing that at age thirteen. That's why in his 380 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: early twenties he was doing play by play in the 381 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: major leagues. 382 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:11,120 Speaker 2: He was so great. We lost Holtzie a long time ago. 383 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 2: What a wonderful man he was. 384 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: On this date in baseball history, Dad, what do you 385 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: have this date? 386 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 2: In two thousand, Ken Griffy Junior was traded from the 387 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 2: Mariners to the Reds for Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko and 388 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 2: a couple of minor leaguers. It's Jim Bowden, who is 389 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 2: the GM of the red said, it was like acquiring 390 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 2: Michael Jordan. That's how great Ken Griffy Junior was in 391 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 2: his prime. Now, he had some good years in Cincinnati, 392 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,719 Speaker 2: but he mostly you know, didn't have the same career 393 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 2: that he did in Seattle because of injuries and everything else. 394 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 2: But let's just never forget what it was like watching 395 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 2: Ken Griffy Junior as a young man. Because he was amazing. 396 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 2: And of course Cincinnati is where he went to high school, 397 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 2: Mohler High School. He was a obviously one of the 398 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 2: greatest high school players ever, number one draft choice overall, 399 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 2: and what's his distinction draft first player ever to. 400 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: What be the number one draft pick and make it 401 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 1: into the Hall of Fame. 402 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Jeff, you're listening so well. I'm proud of you. 403 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 2: So yes, followed only by followed by Chipper Jones for 404 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 2: the first show. Okay, all right, my funny Ken. 405 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: Griffy Junior story. Dad, was the first time that I 406 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: ever had a chance to call the celebrity softball game 407 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: that year it was in Cleveland with our friend EDWARDO. 408 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: Perez and we're calling, mind you, and I mean this, respectfully, 409 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: the stupidest baseball game ever played, the celebrity softball game 410 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: with a million errors and strikeouts, and it was nuts. 411 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: And all of a sudden, I look over my shoulder 412 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: and who's at the desk just standing right there with 413 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: us is Ken Griffy Junior. And I'm thinking this guy 414 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:01,959 Speaker 1: is he's over six hundred home runs and he's watching 415 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: this game. This is an embarrassment, right, And I got 416 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 1: nervous because I got a job to do. I got 417 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: to call this game. But there's Ken Griffy Junior just 418 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: hanging out with us. 419 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:15,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. He liked to do those kind of things, still does, 420 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,880 Speaker 2: and he's a great photographer, by the way, Jeff So Yes, Yeah, 421 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,159 Speaker 2: so Ken Griffy Junior. One of the great players of 422 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 2: all time. This day, in nineteen seventy six, Lance Berkman 423 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 2: was born. Jeff Lifetime Ops nine forty three. Remember a 424 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 2: couple of weeks ago we talked about the one and 425 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 2: done guys in the Hall of Fame. He got one 426 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 2: shot at the Hall of Fame, didn't get five percent 427 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 2: of the vote and was knocked off the ballot. Telling you, 428 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,360 Speaker 2: I think Lance Berkman is a Hall of Famer. It's 429 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,639 Speaker 2: one of the great switch hitters of all time, you know. 430 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,919 Speaker 2: Lifetime two ninety seven at three hundred and whatever, sixty 431 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,639 Speaker 2: six home runs something like that, And it was really interesting, Jeff. 432 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 2: He told me once that if he could do it 433 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 2: all over again, he would not be a switch hitter 434 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 2: because he was a nap left handed hitter, and most 435 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 2: guys are natural Most switch hitters are natural right handed 436 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 2: hitters who turn around and bat from the left side, 437 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 2: like our pal Harold Reynolds. Reynolds, you ain't no switch hitter, right. 438 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 2: Harold became a switch hitter so he could get a 439 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:18,880 Speaker 2: little close to the first base because he could fly 440 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 2: hit a ground ball, beat it out. Lance Berkman was 441 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 2: the opposite. He was the natural left handed hitter who 442 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 2: became also became a right handed hitter. But since he 443 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 2: got fewer at bats right handed, he never really perfected 444 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 2: that swing. And he said, if I could do it 445 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,920 Speaker 2: all over again, I wouldn't have been a switch hitter. 446 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 2: I found that really interesting to you. 447 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you nailed the amount of home runs three 448 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty six home runs right on the dot, 449 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: all right, tell you in your voice you were kind 450 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 1: of yeah. 451 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 2: I wasn't sure I was guessing, all right, I was it, 452 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 2: I was guessing all right. Nineteen eighty four, Alex Gordon 453 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 2: was born. Alex Gordon was the heir apparent to George 454 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 2: Brett as the third baseman for the Royals. George Brad 455 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 2: of course, is the greatest Royal of all time. Sorry, 456 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 2: there is not a close second. And Alex Gordon, the 457 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 2: pressure on him was so enormous that he got a 458 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 2: standing ovation when he went to the on deck circle 459 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 2: in his first major League game. So the Royal fans 460 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 2: very sophisticated. They've been following this guy. They know how 461 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 2: good he's going to be. And he didn't turn out 462 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 2: to be a Hall of Famer, but he turned out 463 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 2: to be a damn good player. Jeff, a really good 464 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 2: defensive third baseman, and then they moved him to left 465 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 2: field and he became really the best defensive left fielder 466 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 2: in the game. So always have a soft spot for 467 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 2: Alex Gordon because the pressure he was under and he 468 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 2: handled it so well. Switched positions and he had both 469 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 2: of them so so well. And last one, Liam Hendricks 470 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 2: born on this date in nineteen eighty nine. You know, 471 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:59,119 Speaker 2: Liam is a really good relief pitcher. Has been bounced 472 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 2: around a bunch of times. I'm Australian. He's got one 473 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 2: of the great accents. Ever. I'm sure I told you this, Jeff. 474 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 2: But I once asked Liam Hendrix. I said, you know, 475 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 2: I love Crocodile Dundee. You know, it's one of my 476 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 2: favorite movies. You know. Yeah, now that's a knife, you know, 477 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 2: So I said, did you love Crocodile Dundee? Like everyone 478 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 2: else did. And he goes, that's the worst movie I've 479 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 2: ever seen. He goes, there is no way that that 480 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:30,919 Speaker 2: depicts real Australian life. So I still love the movie. 481 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 2: I still love Liam Hendrix, but he's on record of 482 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 2: saying it was not a great movie. Let's put it 483 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:37,240 Speaker 2: that way. 484 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: Well, that's good to know, dad. I mean it, it 485 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 1: would be like somebody from a different country going, hey, 486 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: how's your hamburger? You love hamburgers. You know. It's like 487 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,239 Speaker 1: we're pointing out the one thing we know about Australian right, right, Hey, 488 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 1: you ever seen a crocodile before? 489 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 2: Right? Shrimp on the barbie? And he said, we don't 490 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 2: even call it shrimp, you know, the prawns instead of shrimp. 491 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:06,160 Speaker 2: So yeah, yeah, all right, Jeff, what's next? Oh? From 492 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 2: Burley to Behemoth? Right? 493 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 1: And yeah, right, So we're counting down fifty six, counting 494 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 1: up fifty six to ninety nine, started with Mark Burley, 495 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 1: and we're onto sixty one. 496 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 2: Right, and we're probably not going to make it to 497 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 2: ninety nine because by the time the season starts, Jeff, 498 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 2: we're going to go into something a little bit more, 499 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 2: a little bit metior than that, which we'll explain later, 500 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 2: but for now, we'll go with this number sixty one. Again, 501 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,880 Speaker 2: a good pitcher. Levon Hernandez won one hundred and seventy 502 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 2: eight games, had a four point four to four era, 503 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 2: he had a thirty war and you know, he pitched 504 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 2: some pretty big games in his career, and he was 505 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: a great fielding pitcher. He was a really good hitting pitcher. 506 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 2: You know, he looked a little pudgy, a little heavy, 507 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 2: But just another reminder, Jeff, pudgy and heavy doesn't necessarily 508 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: mean you're not a great athlete, because he was, and 509 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 2: he was a very good pitcher. I picked him over 510 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 2: Chan Ho Park. You don't remember the Chan Ho Park story, 511 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 2: and I hope I don't offend anybody here, but I 512 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 2: don't think I even told you this, Jim. I covered 513 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:16,719 Speaker 2: Chan Ho Park's major league debut at Dodger Stadium, and 514 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 2: he was a really good pitcher, don't get me wrong. 515 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 2: So he makes his major league debut and I'm at 516 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 2: Dodger Stadium and over the public address system they introduced 517 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 2: him as Ho Chan Park. So instead of chan Ho Park, 518 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 2: they called him Ho Chan Park, and naturally, the Korean 519 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 2: media were outraged as they should have been that the 520 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 2: poor play by the poor public address guy fouled up 521 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 2: his name. Is that bad taste. 522 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: Or no, I listen. I think they have every right 523 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:53,959 Speaker 1: to be upset when it comes to that. Of course, 524 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be surprised, and I don't know any stories 525 00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: to back it up. With Vizio with his name first 526 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: technically on the back of his jersey. I'm sure somebody 527 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: at one point said Suzuki Echiro, right, because his last 528 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: name is there. 529 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 2: Now. 530 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 1: Granted, you know, when he came into the league, he 531 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: was already a well known name, and then he goes 532 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: ahead and wins the MVP and Workie of the Year 533 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: and all the stuff. But no, Dad, I listen. That's 534 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: as a broadcaster, that's my biggest fear is screwing up 535 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 1: somebody's name, and I will go and ask somebody to 536 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 1: their face, hey, tell me I'm doing this right. Tell 537 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,800 Speaker 1: me I'm saying this right, so I don't embarrass you, 538 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: embarrass myself and embarrass the organization. So yeah, Dad, Oh, 539 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: I know, all right, that's number sixty one. Dad. Let's 540 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 1: go to three cards in the bathroom. Which cards are 541 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: we talking about today? 542 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 2: Well, we start with Billy Ripkin. Billy Ripkin I covered 543 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 2: with the Orioles in the eighties, And don't let anybody 544 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 2: tell you that Billy Ripkin was just a big leaguer 545 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 2: because his brother was Cal Ripkin. Billy Ripkin made the 546 00:30:56,520 --> 00:31:00,160 Speaker 2: double play almost as well as any second baseman I've 547 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 2: ever seen. He was not a great offensive player, but 548 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: he knew how to play the game beautifully. He was 549 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 2: a great defensive player, and he was His brother was 550 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 2: so guarded in everything that he did, which he had 551 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 2: to be because he's Cal Ripken. He can't say the 552 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 2: wrong thing. Billy was a little different. So Billy had 553 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 2: Boston once. This is probably eighty seven. Let's say late 554 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 2: in the season. Orioles aren't very good, And it's a 555 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 2: Sunday morning at Fenway Park in the tiny little clubhouse, 556 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:37,320 Speaker 2: and Billy Ripkin is deciding while eating a chocolate donut 557 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 2: that is roughly the size of a car tire. Okay, 558 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 2: he looks at me and he goes, what should I do? 559 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 2: Should I watch the Three Stooges or should I go 560 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 2: to chapel with a gigantic chocolate doughnut in his hand? 561 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 2: So he went to chapel. Billy made me laugh a 562 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:58,280 Speaker 2: whole bunch of times and repeat A great defensive second basement. 563 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 2: Dale swa number two. Dale Swam, of course, played for 564 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 2: the Brewers left handed hitting shortstop. Not too many of those, 565 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 2: by the way, in baseball history, jeff a left handed 566 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:14,560 Speaker 2: hitting now a switch hitting shortstop, just predominantly left handed 567 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:18,160 Speaker 2: hitting shortstop. And he was a good player and later 568 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:22,959 Speaker 2: became the manager of the Cubs. That Do you remember 569 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 2: the story, Jeff, where I just refused to speak to 570 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 2: Dale Swam ever again because of what he did one 571 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:31,720 Speaker 2: day with his lineup? Do you remember this, and maybe 572 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 2: I don't remember all right, Well, the Dodgers were coming 573 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 2: in and Steven Fife was going to pitch that day 574 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 2: for the Dodgers. Oh yes, So I had been waiting 575 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 2: and waiting and waiting for this matchup for several years, 576 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 2: and here was gonna happen. Steven Fife is going to 577 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:56,479 Speaker 2: pitch for the Dodgers, and the Cubs had a second 578 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 2: baseman name Darwin Barney. Oh yeah, so it would have 579 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 2: been what Jeff Barney Fife the Barney Fife at bat, 580 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 2: and Dale Swam, for no particular reason, just decided to 581 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:18,480 Speaker 2: give Darwin Barney the day off that day. It would 582 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 2: have been the greatest moment in baseball history if we 583 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 2: had had a Barney Fife at bat in the big leagues. 584 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: You and you think I over you think I in 585 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 1: baseball history, says one of baseball's most storied historians. 586 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:47,480 Speaker 2: Last one is Dennis lamp Now, I would say normally 587 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 2: he should be on the all you know, lighting team 588 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 2: or whatever. Dennis lamp Yeah, he was a pretty good 589 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 2: pitcher for several teams, Blue Jays and others. And I'm 590 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 2: not going to use a guy's name because we're not 591 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 2: here to hurt anybody. But one year he was playing 592 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 2: on a team and the one of his outfielders was 593 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:14,080 Speaker 2: a terrible defensive outfielder. Somebody asked Dennis Lamb once like 594 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 2: like how how bad an outfielder is he? And he said, 595 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:21,240 Speaker 2: if you hit him one hundred flyballs, you could write 596 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:24,399 Speaker 2: a book about it. It would be called catch twenty two. 597 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 2: So we got it. We got a hand it to 598 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 2: Dennis lamp for being that club money. Yeah, catch twenty two. 599 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:40,759 Speaker 1: Okay, Well that you had mentioned team tim as if 600 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: you were going to do like an all furniture team, 601 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:44,600 Speaker 1: But I know you have one loaded up because this 602 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:47,880 Speaker 1: Saturday is Valentine's. 603 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 2: Day, right, And John Woodward, who's one of our smartest, cleverest, 604 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 2: funniest listeners, and he he emails us once in a 605 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 2: while with great ideas. So he suggested doing the All 606 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:03,440 Speaker 2: Valian Times Day team and he sent his team in. 607 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 2: Now I had already prepared mine, so it wasn't like 608 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:09,400 Speaker 2: I was ahead of John Woodman, but I borrowed some 609 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:11,800 Speaker 2: of his guys because some of his guys were better 610 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,960 Speaker 2: than mine. But this is the All Valentine's Day team 611 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:23,320 Speaker 2: since Valentine's Day is on Saturday. The catcher is Tyler Flowers. Perfect. 612 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:29,239 Speaker 2: I've got Pete Rose at first base, Ryan Bliss at 613 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:32,439 Speaker 2: second base. Now, John, I stole this from him. Jim 614 00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 2: ray Hart at third base. I grew up watching Jim 615 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,960 Speaker 2: ray Hart play. Way to go, John, Thank you. Bobby 616 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,320 Speaker 2: Wine is the shortstop. Let's see how well you remember 617 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 2: Jeff when he played for the Phillies. His second baseman 618 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:51,480 Speaker 2: was oh gosh, the days of the Days of Wine 619 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 2: and Geez. No, yeah, Bob Cheese was the second base 620 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:04,400 Speaker 2: with Jeff. Bob Sugges. Cookie Rojas was now days of 621 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 2: Wine and Rojas. Sorry, I've always loved that. All Right, 622 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:10,400 Speaker 2: I cheated a little bit in the outfield because we 623 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:13,920 Speaker 2: have three Valentines, so we're gonna use two of them. 624 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:18,680 Speaker 2: We have Bobby Valentine, outfielder and infielder, Ellis Valentine, one 625 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:21,919 Speaker 2: of the great throwing arms I've ever seen, and Fred Valentine, 626 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 2: who I grew up watching with the Washington Center. So 627 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 2: we're gonna use two Valentines, breaking all the rules. But hey, 628 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 2: it's my game. I'll break the rules if I have to. 629 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,680 Speaker 2: Because we have three guys named Valentine, we need to 630 00:36:34,719 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 2: acknowledge all three. And Candy Maldonado is our third out. 631 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:45,479 Speaker 2: So there we go. Pictures Richard Lovelady that also came 632 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 2: from John John Woodward, Way to go, John, Ron Darling, 633 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:56,960 Speaker 2: Bob Friend, and Thomas Diamond all for St. Pat, All 634 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 2: for Saint Patrick's Day, I mean for all for Valentine's. 635 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:02,640 Speaker 1: Sorry, you really sum that up nice. 636 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:05,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was a great finish, Jeff. Maybe it wasn't 637 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:07,920 Speaker 2: worth doing in the first place, but okay. 638 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 1: So that's team Tim for the Day, Team Tim for 639 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 1: the Day, Team Tim for the holiday. Listen, we are 640 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:18,560 Speaker 1: so happy to be among spring training. This is the 641 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 1: best time. But if you're a listener of the podcast, 642 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,400 Speaker 1: do me a quick favor. Leave us a rating wherever 643 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 1: you're listening right now. Five stars would be great, but 644 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 1: be honest, leave a comment, tell us what you think 645 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:31,319 Speaker 1: about the show, and then share it with somebody who 646 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:33,640 Speaker 1: loves this game, because we're trying to grow the podcast 647 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:35,919 Speaker 1: every single day and share our love of the game 648 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:38,000 Speaker 1: with you. So you can share your love of the 649 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:40,719 Speaker 1: game with us, always message us great game or what 650 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,919 Speaker 1: dot com we want to hear from you. Dad. Let's 651 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:46,600 Speaker 1: make this happen. Let's hope for no more snowstorms. 652 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:49,160 Speaker 2: Right you can give us a five, but a six 653 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:53,920 Speaker 2: seven would be even better. Nice. 654 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:56,440 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and it's always thanks for being a 655 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 1: part of our family.