The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio. Heydaron. Welcome back to the latest episode of the Book of Joe with me, Tom Verducci, and of course Joe Madden. Joe are almost one month into the season. How you doing. How are you enjoying the Major League Baseball season twenty twenty five?

The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio. Heydaron. Welcome back to the latest episode of the Book of Joe with me, Tom Verducci, and of course Joe Madden. Joe are almost one month into the season. How you doing. How are you enjoying the Major League Baseball season twenty twenty five?

Doing well? I have been watching some games. You know, what I really like is the MLB app So like in the morning, I'll catch up on box scores and things like that. I look at the post and I look at the app. But the thing I like is their video recap of a game. It's pretty good, so you know, you're not going to see everything. Of course, you don't see a lot of pitching moments that I'm watching hitters I'm watching, you know, seeing guys that have not I don't really know. I've never had a chance to be on the field with their scout. I'm loving the of the recent successes of Joe Adele. He's one of my favorites. I like what he's doing Paris the Young Second Basement with the Angels. I noticed that Hobby's starting to pick up a little bit. I know he's playing all over the place, but I like the app for that reason, the condensed version of so I've been able to keep up do my daily readings and so yeah, so far, so good. Kind of interesting.

Doing well? I have been watching some games. You know, what I really like is the MLB app So like in the morning, I'll catch up on box scores and things like that. I look at the post and I look at the app. But the thing I like is their video recap of a game. It's pretty good, so you know, you're not going to see everything. Of course, you don't see a lot of pitching moments that I'm watching hitters I'm watching, you know, seeing guys that have not I don't really know. I've never had a chance to be on the field with their scout. I'm loving the of the recent successes of Joe Adele. He's one of my favorites. I like what he's doing Paris the Young Second Basement with the Angels. I noticed that Hobby's starting to pick up a little bit. I know he's playing all over the place, but I like the app for that reason, the condensed version of so I've been able to keep up do my daily readings and so yeah, so far, so good. Kind of interesting.

Yeah, that app is just awesome, isn't it. I mean, if you're even a little bit of a baseball fan, you have to have that. It's a must have.

Yeah, that app is just awesome, isn't it. I mean, if you're even a little bit of a baseball fan, you have to have that. It's a must have.

It's great.

It's great.

Hey, one of our favorite topics here, at least mine, I don't know about you, Joe is manager is dealing with discipline because it doesn't come up much in MLB. We're going to get into a major controversy in that regard. But I have to start since you mentioned the app, Joe and following Aaron Judge this year, I mean, is it possible and I think it is possible that Aaron Judge is the best he's ever been. I mean that's saying a lot. This guy is an all time great hitter and that's not an exaggeration. How about this slash line this year Joe four eleven five h nine on base percentage that's just ridiculous and a seven twenty two slugging percentage. You know, he had a game Tuesday night against Cleveland where he went four for four four hits on four different pitches. He has twenty five RBIs in his first twenty four games this year. Joe, we know this guy's a great hitter. Tell me what you're seeing with Aaron Judge this year, because last year we talked a lot about the combo of Soto and Judge back to back in that Yankee lineup. He's actually even better this year.

Hey, one of our favorite topics here, at least mine, I don't know about you, Joe is manager is dealing with discipline because it doesn't come up much in MLB. We're going to get into a major controversy in that regard. But I have to start since you mentioned the app, Joe and following Aaron Judge this year, I mean, is it possible and I think it is possible that Aaron Judge is the best he's ever been. I mean that's saying a lot. This guy is an all time great hitter and that's not an exaggeration. How about this slash line this year Joe four eleven five h nine on base percentage that's just ridiculous and a seven twenty two slugging percentage. You know, he had a game Tuesday night against Cleveland where he went four for four four hits on four different pitches. He has twenty five RBIs in his first twenty four games this year. Joe, we know this guy's a great hitter. Tell me what you're seeing with Aaron Judge this year, because last year we talked a lot about the combo of Soto and Judge back to back in that Yankee lineup. He's actually even better this year.

I think it all comes down to chase and organization of a strike zone. I think it starts with that. You know, when he goes bad, like most hitters, they get outside of their zone a little bit, and then pitchers will just feed off of that. You lose your patience. These the pitches that start as a strike can become a ball. You start to offer or even check swing a lot. The check swing always bothers me in regards to how well the hitter is seeing a pitcher. So I just he's obviously on top of his game. I think he's motivated, but he's always motive. But the way last year ended probably did not sit well with him. The fact that he had a difficult postseason did not sit well with him. So I think in a lot of different areas this is like the perfect storm to see the best version of him doesn't have Sodo in the lineup, And I know there's been a lot made of that. I've read a lot about that, Sodo's comments the New York Papers, which I just I always take with a grain of salt, doesn't really mean anything. But the fact that is it's a different cast of character is there with him. Some veterans in there too that I kind of like. I'm a Goldsmith fan from way back. So there's all these little dynamic things working right there. But I think the primary thing is how last season ended, how he probably processed the offseason, how and coming into camp with his focus is and I think he's single minded enough when he really gets to want to do something make himself better at something, I think he really applies himself in a way that's extraordinary. So my take on it is that's it's a combination of all those facets that's leading to this Barry Bonds kind of start.

I think it all comes down to chase and organization of a strike zone. I think it starts with that. You know, when he goes bad, like most hitters, they get outside of their zone a little bit, and then pitchers will just feed off of that. You lose your patience. These the pitches that start as a strike can become a ball. You start to offer or even check swing a lot. The check swing always bothers me in regards to how well the hitter is seeing a pitcher. So I just he's obviously on top of his game. I think he's motivated, but he's always motive. But the way last year ended probably did not sit well with him. The fact that he had a difficult postseason did not sit well with him. So I think in a lot of different areas this is like the perfect storm to see the best version of him doesn't have Sodo in the lineup, And I know there's been a lot made of that. I've read a lot about that, Sodo's comments the New York Papers, which I just I always take with a grain of salt, doesn't really mean anything. But the fact that is it's a different cast of character is there with him. Some veterans in there too that I kind of like. I'm a Goldsmith fan from way back. So there's all these little dynamic things working right there. But I think the primary thing is how last season ended, how he probably processed the offseason, how and coming into camp with his focus is and I think he's single minded enough when he really gets to want to do something make himself better at something, I think he really applies himself in a way that's extraordinary. So my take on it is that's it's a combination of all those facets that's leading to this Barry Bonds kind of start.

Yeah, I like your take on that, Joe, because you don't want to imply that he's trying harder, right, because that implies that maybe you could have tried harder last year. I never liked that, but I like that word focus because there is a mental edge here and you hit on a couple of reasons there. That the way the postseason went for Judge last year. And also, you know, without Mon Soto, let's face it, I mean, I think you know Soto, you know, was on base so many times in front of Aaron Judge. I think he's motivated to say, hey, I'm still good man. You know, I've got Bellinger, I've got gold Schmidt. May not be Soto, but good hitters around me. And I just think he's more focused, motivated at whatever word you want to use, there's a little bit of an edge there, just to throw some numbers at you. Just one thing that surprised me. I looked at the number of pitches in the zone. I thought last year he saw career high pitches in the zone because Won Soto was on base a lot. He actually has seen so far, and it's early more pitches in the zone this year than he did last year. That surprised me that pitchers are actually coming into the zone to Aaron Judge. A couple other things against fastballs, this I've never seen a number like this. Joe, He's batting five h nine against fastballs. I mean, that is just ridiculous. Six of his seven home runs have been on fastballs. You can't throw this guy at fastball anywhere. And the last thing I'll mention the pitch at the bottom of the zone. I'm talking about that bottom rail strike. Whether it's fastball or breaking ball or off speed. It was the one place that you thought was a safe zone against Aaron Judge. He came into this year hitting two thirty four against pitches on the bottom rail. He's sitting three p forty one on those pitches this year. He is taking his hits. May not be home runs, but he's getting hits off the bottom rail. I don't see any place any safe zone for Aaron Judge. Joe. I mean, you're you're famous for the way you've attacked guys like Bryce Harper, going back to Barry Bonds. When you've got a bat like this, how do you pitch to Aaron Judge these days?

Yeah, I like your take on that, Joe, because you don't want to imply that he's trying harder, right, because that implies that maybe you could have tried harder last year. I never liked that, but I like that word focus because there is a mental edge here and you hit on a couple of reasons there. That the way the postseason went for Judge last year. And also, you know, without Mon Soto, let's face it, I mean, I think you know Soto, you know, was on base so many times in front of Aaron Judge. I think he's motivated to say, hey, I'm still good man. You know, I've got Bellinger, I've got gold Schmidt. May not be Soto, but good hitters around me. And I just think he's more focused, motivated at whatever word you want to use, there's a little bit of an edge there, just to throw some numbers at you. Just one thing that surprised me. I looked at the number of pitches in the zone. I thought last year he saw career high pitches in the zone because Won Soto was on base a lot. He actually has seen so far, and it's early more pitches in the zone this year than he did last year. That surprised me that pitchers are actually coming into the zone to Aaron Judge. A couple other things against fastballs, this I've never seen a number like this. Joe, He's batting five h nine against fastballs. I mean, that is just ridiculous. Six of his seven home runs have been on fastballs. You can't throw this guy at fastball anywhere. And the last thing I'll mention the pitch at the bottom of the zone. I'm talking about that bottom rail strike. Whether it's fastball or breaking ball or off speed. It was the one place that you thought was a safe zone against Aaron Judge. He came into this year hitting two thirty four against pitches on the bottom rail. He's sitting three p forty one on those pitches this year. He is taking his hits. May not be home runs, but he's getting hits off the bottom rail. I don't see any place any safe zone for Aaron Judge. Joe. I mean, you're you're famous for the way you've attacked guys like Bryce Harper, going back to Barry Bonds. When you've got a bat like this, how do you pitch to Aaron Judge these days?

Well, we've talked about even in the past. You know, it just depends on who's behind him. I know there's a lot of talking, like you've talked about with Soda in front of him being on base. I still want to know sitting behind the guy, and when he's that hot, you just you just don't. You don't dip your toe in that water in the air judges water, you don't dip it. You just stay away from him as much as you possibly can. Even when he gets a critical point in the game where you may feel like you have to pitch to him, you really don't. So I would I would just uh three game series. Emphasis would be listen, make so and so beat us, Make so and so beat us. We're staying away from him. Curious about the fastball. But I like that because my take a lot of it watching these stuff is like a lot of guys these days aren't catching up the velocity, and it's you know, it's pretty terrible velocity, so it's difficult to catch up to. But when you can catch up to big velocity, wow, then you really are. For me, that's really majorly hitter. It's almost like the opposite where major league pitcher can throw really locate his fastball and throw a strike with it when he wants to. So in conjunction with that, like I said, I believe what I'm seeing is that he's not chasing as much. You might have that number because if he's attacking the fastball, I'm not missing it. That's really important because it's not taken for a strike. It's not swung it and fouled off or just obviously swung it missed. So whenever he sees that pitch, something good's apparently happening. And then maybe because of that and the fact that he's a little bit more discerning right now, it's making it really hard to imagine what are we going to do with this guy before the series? How are we gonna attack him? Regardless of analytics and where it says the pitcher not pitch. There's so many things happening here. So I would just in my pre series meeting emphasize again, somebody else has got to beat us.

Well, we've talked about even in the past. You know, it just depends on who's behind him. I know there's a lot of talking, like you've talked about with Soda in front of him being on base. I still want to know sitting behind the guy, and when he's that hot, you just you just don't. You don't dip your toe in that water in the air judges water, you don't dip it. You just stay away from him as much as you possibly can. Even when he gets a critical point in the game where you may feel like you have to pitch to him, you really don't. So I would I would just uh three game series. Emphasis would be listen, make so and so beat us, Make so and so beat us. We're staying away from him. Curious about the fastball. But I like that because my take a lot of it watching these stuff is like a lot of guys these days aren't catching up the velocity, and it's you know, it's pretty terrible velocity, so it's difficult to catch up to. But when you can catch up to big velocity, wow, then you really are. For me, that's really majorly hitter. It's almost like the opposite where major league pitcher can throw really locate his fastball and throw a strike with it when he wants to. So in conjunction with that, like I said, I believe what I'm seeing is that he's not chasing as much. You might have that number because if he's attacking the fastball, I'm not missing it. That's really important because it's not taken for a strike. It's not swung it and fouled off or just obviously swung it missed. So whenever he sees that pitch, something good's apparently happening. And then maybe because of that and the fact that he's a little bit more discerning right now, it's making it really hard to imagine what are we going to do with this guy before the series? How are we gonna attack him? Regardless of analytics and where it says the pitcher not pitch. There's so many things happening here. So I would just in my pre series meeting emphasize again, somebody else has got to beat us.

I think that's it, Joe. I don't think there's a way you can really afford to attack him when he's this hot. And I say, and you know, he might be just this good. I mean, we're talking about a month end of the season. I get that, but he just looks totally locked in. Speaking of locked in, we've got to talk about the highest scoring team in baseball, Joe, and that is the Chicago Cubs. Have you seen the way the Cubs are absolutely pounding the baseball. It is unbelievable. You talk about fastballs only the Yankees, partly because a judge have a higher slugging percentage on fastballs than the Cubs. But what's interesting, Joe, is you look at launch angle and they're only nineteenth. These guys are just spraying the ball over the field. They're a line drive hitting team. Yeah, they can hit home runs as well. But tell me what you see of the Cubs early on, because they're turning out to be a much better offensive team.

I think that's it, Joe. I don't think there's a way you can really afford to attack him when he's this hot. And I say, and you know, he might be just this good. I mean, we're talking about a month end of the season. I get that, but he just looks totally locked in. Speaking of locked in, we've got to talk about the highest scoring team in baseball, Joe, and that is the Chicago Cubs. Have you seen the way the Cubs are absolutely pounding the baseball. It is unbelievable. You talk about fastballs only the Yankees, partly because a judge have a higher slugging percentage on fastballs than the Cubs. But what's interesting, Joe, is you look at launch angle and they're only nineteenth. These guys are just spraying the ball over the field. They're a line drive hitting team. Yeah, they can hit home runs as well. But tell me what you see of the Cubs early on, because they're turning out to be a much better offensive team.

At least I thought, welly, the guy hitting second. I mean, I'm such a Tucker fan. We've talked about this before the season began, and if you look at his numbers right now, he's doing pretty good. He hit a home run late in yesterday's game to put him tire ahead. I can't remember exactly what that was. I'm a Tucker freak. He grew up right down the street from where I'm sitting at planned high school. I think he's that good. I just think, like we've talked about it, argument is I still would choose him over a Soto given a free agency opportunity. I think this guy is that good. Because he also kills lefties. The home run he hit yesterday was against a left handed pitcher, So I think it starts with him, I really do. I think he's rubbed off on these other guys. Is that bat is so pro it's a professional at bat all the time. The other guys, I'm curious to see how this all plays out. I think the one's been blowing out a little bit. To what I've been watching, fly balls have been going out. The home run Baya Maya to tie it late yesterday, it was a fly ball and landed in a basket and left center, So there might be some of the elemental stuff coming in right now. But yeah, like I do like their lineup. They got it going on right now. But I think the lynchpin to this whole thing, by far is the fact I think it's one of the best acquisitions of the off season and for them now and forever in the future. I think it's really important that they sign him long term wise, because he will be a difference maker for years to come. He is that good, is at bachelor that good, and on top of that, he's a good baseball player.

At least I thought, welly, the guy hitting second. I mean, I'm such a Tucker fan. We've talked about this before the season began, and if you look at his numbers right now, he's doing pretty good. He hit a home run late in yesterday's game to put him tire ahead. I can't remember exactly what that was. I'm a Tucker freak. He grew up right down the street from where I'm sitting at planned high school. I think he's that good. I just think, like we've talked about it, argument is I still would choose him over a Soto given a free agency opportunity. I think this guy is that good. Because he also kills lefties. The home run he hit yesterday was against a left handed pitcher, So I think it starts with him, I really do. I think he's rubbed off on these other guys. Is that bat is so pro it's a professional at bat all the time. The other guys, I'm curious to see how this all plays out. I think the one's been blowing out a little bit. To what I've been watching, fly balls have been going out. The home run Baya Maya to tie it late yesterday, it was a fly ball and landed in a basket and left center, So there might be some of the elemental stuff coming in right now. But yeah, like I do like their lineup. They got it going on right now. But I think the lynchpin to this whole thing, by far is the fact I think it's one of the best acquisitions of the off season and for them now and forever in the future. I think it's really important that they sign him long term wise, because he will be a difference maker for years to come. He is that good, is at bachelor that good, and on top of that, he's a good baseball player.

Yeah, it's all great points. Let me correct myself. Their nineteenth and exit velocity launch angle. They are number two in baseball, so they are getting in the air. And you're right about Wrigley, by the way, I mean Riggly last year played enormous because it was a tough weather year for hitters. I mean like the whole year. And if you look over the last four years, it is alternated being a pitcher's park and a hitters park, and it looks like we're back to being a hitters park. And on Kyle Tucker, what he has done, Joe reminds me of Don Mattingly, Sean Green, Steve Finley, good left handed hitters who learn how to hit the ball in the air and the poll side. That's what Kyle Tucker has done. If you look, he has improved those numbers literally every year in his career. It's been a gradual evolution. Seven home runs this year, all of them on the inside part of the plate to the pole side of the field. He is a different hitter. If you watch his swing. He used to swing over his front side before with the closed stands. He has more neutral stance anything inner half. He's opening up that hip. He's not rolling over with the top hand he's back spinning the ball. I mean, this is just a natural evolution of a really good hitter who became and is becoming a really good slugger.

Yeah, it's all great points. Let me correct myself. Their nineteenth and exit velocity launch angle. They are number two in baseball, so they are getting in the air. And you're right about Wrigley, by the way, I mean Riggly last year played enormous because it was a tough weather year for hitters. I mean like the whole year. And if you look over the last four years, it is alternated being a pitcher's park and a hitters park, and it looks like we're back to being a hitters park. And on Kyle Tucker, what he has done, Joe reminds me of Don Mattingly, Sean Green, Steve Finley, good left handed hitters who learn how to hit the ball in the air and the poll side. That's what Kyle Tucker has done. If you look, he has improved those numbers literally every year in his career. It's been a gradual evolution. Seven home runs this year, all of them on the inside part of the plate to the pole side of the field. He is a different hitter. If you watch his swing. He used to swing over his front side before with the closed stands. He has more neutral stance anything inner half. He's opening up that hip. He's not rolling over with the top hand he's back spinning the ball. I mean, this is just a natural evolution of a really good hitter who became and is becoming a really good slugger.

Well yeah, even when I first saw him with the astros, dusty head and batting blower in the batting order, and I always like, whoa, it also spoke to the depth of that batting order and might they have been so good for so many years? But he was kind of hidden. The guy was hidden there for a while, and then eventually he just he forced himself into the higher end of the batting order. And I think maybe a guy or two had left, or just the fact that he got so good. But I listen it. I think this guy is all of that. It's not going away. The biggest reason why he hits lefties, I mean, he hits a lefty like it's like it's sitting on the tee, like he sees it out of his hand. There is no benefit, zero benefit to bring in the left handed pitcher. And the picture of this guy, I don't care who it is, the guy with phillies, Albarado right, the left hander right, great stuff, I don't care. I'm telling you it does not matter to this fellow, he will hit your best lefty with like this premier stuff. He's on it. Like you said, he's learned to cover in. He's covering in and putting it in the air. But go ahead, go away from him and watch the line drive to left.

Well yeah, even when I first saw him with the astros, dusty head and batting blower in the batting order, and I always like, whoa, it also spoke to the depth of that batting order and might they have been so good for so many years? But he was kind of hidden. The guy was hidden there for a while, and then eventually he just he forced himself into the higher end of the batting order. And I think maybe a guy or two had left, or just the fact that he got so good. But I listen it. I think this guy is all of that. It's not going away. The biggest reason why he hits lefties, I mean, he hits a lefty like it's like it's sitting on the tee, like he sees it out of his hand. There is no benefit, zero benefit to bring in the left handed pitcher. And the picture of this guy, I don't care who it is, the guy with phillies, Albarado right, the left hander right, great stuff, I don't care. I'm telling you it does not matter to this fellow, he will hit your best lefty with like this premier stuff. He's on it. Like you said, he's learned to cover in. He's covering in and putting it in the air. But go ahead, go away from him and watch the line drive to left.

Center, Joes. It reminds you of anybody that you've seen, because I always like to see players, and Don manningly is always my classic case. Who get to the big leagues maybe without power, but you can see there's a good hitter and they grow into power rather than chasing it early.

Center, Joes. It reminds you of anybody that you've seen, because I always like to see players, and Don manningly is always my classic case. Who get to the big leagues maybe without power, but you can see there's a good hitter and they grow into power rather than chasing it early.

Uh Rufael Palmerrow, I mean, I mean he had I saw him as a baby with the Cubs, you know, Wally Joyner, and maybe not to this level obviously, but Wallace Keith hit more home runs when he came up with the Angels back in the day, left handed, smooth, left handed hitters that eventually even like Will Clark, I know, Will you know, you didn't really see him as a ball in the air power kind of guy, but became kind of that as he moved it along. So one of my the best comps for me I and Rafael palm Merron. I know there's issues with whether he did this, or did that, but easiest swing in left hander, and eventually, all of a sudden, it's like whoa where did that come from? And he became all of that. So I love matting Lee comp You're right on with that too, but if asked me, I would also include pal Merrell.

Uh Rufael Palmerrow, I mean, I mean he had I saw him as a baby with the Cubs, you know, Wally Joyner, and maybe not to this level obviously, but Wallace Keith hit more home runs when he came up with the Angels back in the day, left handed, smooth, left handed hitters that eventually even like Will Clark, I know, Will you know, you didn't really see him as a ball in the air power kind of guy, but became kind of that as he moved it along. So one of my the best comps for me I and Rafael palm Merron. I know there's issues with whether he did this, or did that, but easiest swing in left hander, and eventually, all of a sudden, it's like whoa where did that come from? And he became all of that. So I love matting Lee comp You're right on with that too, but if asked me, I would also include pal Merrell.

Yeah, this is all happening, by the way, and we're talking about Judge, the breakout of Kyle Tucker and the Cubs in a time when the major league batting average in April Joe is two thirty seven. Well, if you go back to nineteen seventy three, that's started the dh era. There's only been two years where April has had a lower batting average and those years were twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two. I mean, two thirty seven is the average major league hitterer. Now. It is a tough environment to hit in, so when you do see guys just absolutely raking like Kyle Tucker and Aaron Judge, it's even more impressive.

Yeah, this is all happening, by the way, and we're talking about Judge, the breakout of Kyle Tucker and the Cubs in a time when the major league batting average in April Joe is two thirty seven. Well, if you go back to nineteen seventy three, that's started the dh era. There's only been two years where April has had a lower batting average and those years were twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two. I mean, two thirty seven is the average major league hitterer. Now. It is a tough environment to hit in, so when you do see guys just absolutely raking like Kyle Tucker and Aaron Judge, it's even more impressive.

Let me ask you this, I mean regarding that, of course, I don't even know what the weather's been like everywhere, but to a certain extent, does it have to do with the younger player being more involved. I mean guys where again I've talked about the middle class, you know, the guys in that price range that become somewhat prohibitive just in order to standard salary caps and trying to balance things out regarding money. There's certain guys like I see Pilar still employed, and I love the fact that Pilar is still employed, and I don't have like Verdugo got back into it the Braves eventually, But there's this certain middle class to me that's been less important based on the fact that young guys have been pushed there a little bit sooner. And while the young guys have been pushed up, these guys have been kind of a forgotten part of the game. I should make a list of these players that I'm talking about more specifically, but that group, there's that group that just in that price range that are good baseball players. They're not getting the same opportunities that younger players are getting who are still learning their craft that you know, for years would still be on the Triple A level but are now on the big league level. So I'm just curious, like the experienced level, of the expertise level, the hitting level of some of these guys that needs to catch up, and maybe are they just getting there a little bit too soon. I'm just just posing.

Let me ask you this, I mean regarding that, of course, I don't even know what the weather's been like everywhere, but to a certain extent, does it have to do with the younger player being more involved. I mean guys where again I've talked about the middle class, you know, the guys in that price range that become somewhat prohibitive just in order to standard salary caps and trying to balance things out regarding money. There's certain guys like I see Pilar still employed, and I love the fact that Pilar is still employed, and I don't have like Verdugo got back into it the Braves eventually, But there's this certain middle class to me that's been less important based on the fact that young guys have been pushed there a little bit sooner. And while the young guys have been pushed up, these guys have been kind of a forgotten part of the game. I should make a list of these players that I'm talking about more specifically, but that group, there's that group that just in that price range that are good baseball players. They're not getting the same opportunities that younger players are getting who are still learning their craft that you know, for years would still be on the Triple A level but are now on the big league level. So I'm just curious, like the experienced level, of the expertise level, the hitting level of some of these guys that needs to catch up, and maybe are they just getting there a little bit too soon. I'm just just posing.

That I've got some answers for you, Joe.

That I've got some answers for you, Joe.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I appreciate it might surprise you, Okay. I mean this game is getting younger, and I think you hinted at this with the velocity in the game today. You know, guys coming up to the big leagues they can time a jet engine. Now they're seeing velocity when they're amateurs. It used to be there was a big jump and v low between the miners and the majors. That's not the case now. To me, the biggest thing is swing decisions on breaking balls, because you just don't see the quality breaking ball in the minors you see the majors. But anyway, to answer your question, you're absolutely right those veteran experienced hitters are kind of going away. There's only three qualified hitters this year age thirty six and above, Carlos Santana, Paul Goldschmidt and Tommy fam That's it. Now. If you break down the batting average, and I know batting average is not the be all and all, we're using that as a rule of thumb here. By age in the Big Leagues. This year, players twenty five and under are hitting two thirty nine, players twenty six to thirty two thirty eight, thirty one to thirty five, two thirty six, and thirty six and above two nineteen. There's a direct correlation between age and performance. The younger players twenty five and under, and it's only slight are doing better than the age groups. In fact, that age group batting average goes down the older guys are maybe counterintuitive, but I'll go back to velocity, Joe. I think the younger player now has just been trained on Velo.

I appreciate it might surprise you, Okay. I mean this game is getting younger, and I think you hinted at this with the velocity in the game today. You know, guys coming up to the big leagues they can time a jet engine. Now they're seeing velocity when they're amateurs. It used to be there was a big jump and v low between the miners and the majors. That's not the case now. To me, the biggest thing is swing decisions on breaking balls, because you just don't see the quality breaking ball in the minors you see the majors. But anyway, to answer your question, you're absolutely right those veteran experienced hitters are kind of going away. There's only three qualified hitters this year age thirty six and above, Carlos Santana, Paul Goldschmidt and Tommy fam That's it. Now. If you break down the batting average, and I know batting average is not the be all and all, we're using that as a rule of thumb here. By age in the Big Leagues. This year, players twenty five and under are hitting two thirty nine, players twenty six to thirty two thirty eight, thirty one to thirty five, two thirty six, and thirty six and above two nineteen. There's a direct correlation between age and performance. The younger players twenty five and under, and it's only slight are doing better than the age groups. In fact, that age group batting average goes down the older guys are maybe counterintuitive, but I'll go back to velocity, Joe. I think the younger player now has just been trained on Velo.

Yeah, and I guess a lot of these are guys. There are some prodigies among them too, There's no question about that, and I just have to My problem is, you know, I'm trying to create conjecture, ideas or thoughts based on reading and just watching on TV. I am so into as a former scout. I love to see this with my own eyeballs in order to be able to judge or consider what I see when I think. To always rely on somebody else's thoughts or opinions. It's difficult, and it's not like I don't believe people. It's not the point. But you have to create your own judgments based on eyeballs. Man. So anyway, that's interesting to note. Thanks for the information. But it's the one thing I miss about what I'm not doing right now. It's the evaluation process watching players and in a sense judging them and trying to project upon them and understanding them and what I like, what I don't like. And that's the part it's really difficult from the seat that I have right now compared to what I used to have.

Yeah, and I guess a lot of these are guys. There are some prodigies among them too, There's no question about that, and I just have to My problem is, you know, I'm trying to create conjecture, ideas or thoughts based on reading and just watching on TV. I am so into as a former scout. I love to see this with my own eyeballs in order to be able to judge or consider what I see when I think. To always rely on somebody else's thoughts or opinions. It's difficult, and it's not like I don't believe people. It's not the point. But you have to create your own judgments based on eyeballs. Man. So anyway, that's interesting to note. Thanks for the information. But it's the one thing I miss about what I'm not doing right now. It's the evaluation process watching players and in a sense judging them and trying to project upon them and understanding them and what I like, what I don't like. And that's the part it's really difficult from the seat that I have right now compared to what I used to have.

Well, I mentioned the top Joe, we needed to talk about discipline and managers in the difficult spot they put in. Of course, we're talking about the role of Brian Snicker in Atlanta last weekend, and I'd love to get Joe's take on this situation, and we will do that right after this on the Book of Joe. Welcome back to the Book of Joe. Joe, I'm sure you saw this on Saturday night in Atlanta. Jared Kelnick hit the ball off the wall, was thrown out at second base because he essentially watched the ball thinking it might leave the yard. It was a bang bang play. In fact, he was called out only upon replay review. But Ronald Acunya the next Day tweeted something about the manager Brian Snicker not calling out Jared Kelnick for not running out that possible home run, because obviously, in twenty nineteen, Thinker had benched round Da Kunya for doing the exact same thing on a fly ball the right field that create a bit of a stir. I have some strong feelings about this job. I'm sure you did too. I want to start with your opinions because you've been there in the dugout. You've had cases where you've had to sit people down when something similar happened. What was your reaction to this.

Well, I mentioned the top Joe, we needed to talk about discipline and managers in the difficult spot they put in. Of course, we're talking about the role of Brian Snicker in Atlanta last weekend, and I'd love to get Joe's take on this situation, and we will do that right after this on the Book of Joe. Welcome back to the Book of Joe. Joe, I'm sure you saw this on Saturday night in Atlanta. Jared Kelnick hit the ball off the wall, was thrown out at second base because he essentially watched the ball thinking it might leave the yard. It was a bang bang play. In fact, he was called out only upon replay review. But Ronald Acunya the next Day tweeted something about the manager Brian Snicker not calling out Jared Kelnick for not running out that possible home run, because obviously, in twenty nineteen, Thinker had benched round Da Kunya for doing the exact same thing on a fly ball the right field that create a bit of a stir. I have some strong feelings about this job. I'm sure you did too. I want to start with your opinions because you've been there in the dugout. You've had cases where you've had to sit people down when something similar happened. What was your reaction to this.

I'm just going to see if I could go in my own chronological order here. Number one, it starts in the in spring training. It starts philosophically, it starts with conversations. For me, it was always respect ninety I would have meetings in spring training every year, obviously, and one of the first things it was the first thing I would talk about what the position players specifically, was that we're going to respect ninety feet. I always felt if you ran hard between home plate and first base, I don't mean to the point you're going to get hurt. You know, whatever that hundred percent is on that particular day. Let's have that because I think it'll permeate the rest of your game in a good way. So I always started there.

I'm just going to see if I could go in my own chronological order here. Number one, it starts in the in spring training. It starts philosophically, it starts with conversations. For me, it was always respect ninety I would have meetings in spring training every year, obviously, and one of the first things it was the first thing I would talk about what the position players specifically, was that we're going to respect ninety feet. I always felt if you ran hard between home plate and first base, I don't mean to the point you're going to get hurt. You know, whatever that hundred percent is on that particular day. Let's have that because I think it'll permeate the rest of your game in a good way. So I always started there.

I saw it painted in the grass of the spring training. That's how much you have.

I saw it painted in the grass of the spring training. That's how much you have.

Yeah, it was wonderful that we were able to do that with the cubbies. I love that, and the guys kind of caught onto it. Then then it comes to the veterans on your team and the coaches, the lead bulls in a sense, to really have them understand how important it is conversationally, and then you need it to get that out of them. Those guys had to buy and this is something they really had to buy into. You need their support as a manager to really have this become part of the culture there. With that, I want them to be the first guys to call out a player in a situation where they don't the player does not adhere to this, a player does lolligag the full Durham line from whenever they seen that. I want them to call them out on this first. So there's a pecking quorder with all this. Of course, as individual we all should be able to police ourselves. It's not doesn't take a lot of talent to hustle the first space and beyond. But then I want the older statesmen within the group players and then the coaching staff to jump in there. The best coaches are the ones that are not afraid to have tough conversations, and that's a tough conversation sometimes with Akunya, I'm betting that Snid had other conversations with him before he actually did what he did. I would bet not. I don't want to use the word chronic, but I'm sure it popped up a little bit where he was not pleased with the way he ran maybe one two or three times before he actually did pull him for kel Nick. Obviously, he is a hair on fire kind of guy, so sometimes you're not looking for that with a guy like that. So I think there's a lot of things involved in this, But the point is, if you say you're gonna do something as a matter, you gotta do it. I've been involved in it myself. I've pulled a couple of guys that have been involved with the veteran player back in the day that I advised my manager to do it based on conversations we had prior to the moment with the player. So long answer. There's a lot going on there, but if you say you're going to do it, you got to do it. So I'm just betting that there was previous egregious situations that let snit to do this.

Yeah, it was wonderful that we were able to do that with the cubbies. I love that, and the guys kind of caught onto it. Then then it comes to the veterans on your team and the coaches, the lead bulls in a sense, to really have them understand how important it is conversationally, and then you need it to get that out of them. Those guys had to buy and this is something they really had to buy into. You need their support as a manager to really have this become part of the culture there. With that, I want them to be the first guys to call out a player in a situation where they don't the player does not adhere to this, a player does lolligag the full Durham line from whenever they seen that. I want them to call them out on this first. So there's a pecking quorder with all this. Of course, as individual we all should be able to police ourselves. It's not doesn't take a lot of talent to hustle the first space and beyond. But then I want the older statesmen within the group players and then the coaching staff to jump in there. The best coaches are the ones that are not afraid to have tough conversations, and that's a tough conversation sometimes with Akunya, I'm betting that Snid had other conversations with him before he actually did what he did. I would bet not. I don't want to use the word chronic, but I'm sure it popped up a little bit where he was not pleased with the way he ran maybe one two or three times before he actually did pull him for kel Nick. Obviously, he is a hair on fire kind of guy, so sometimes you're not looking for that with a guy like that. So I think there's a lot of things involved in this, But the point is, if you say you're gonna do something as a matter, you gotta do it. I've been involved in it myself. I've pulled a couple of guys that have been involved with the veteran player back in the day that I advised my manager to do it based on conversations we had prior to the moment with the player. So long answer. There's a lot going on there, but if you say you're going to do it, you got to do it. So I'm just betting that there was previous egregious situations that let snit to do this.

I agree with you on that, and I think there was some warnings, if you will, or situations with a kunya that had been dressed before it became public. But let me start with this, the most important part of all this Joe in my book, and I love Brian Snicker. He's a great manager. I love his story. He waited a long time to get a job. Win's a world series dedicated to the Brays organization for half a century. But you can't miss that play. And he literally was unaware of what Jared Kilnick did. He didn't know what he said until the next morning, this Sunday morning. That cannot happen. Where is your staff and I'm talking about coaching staff, analysts, everything. When a guy gets thrown out in this case a bang bang play your job as a manager to understand why, no matter where it is on the base paths. Did he get a bad jump? Was a secondary poor Did my coach not give him a good heads up? What happened to cause that run to come off the board or the runner off the field. Sneaker didn't do that. Inventory You can't miss that play. It's literally right in front of you. It was shown on the video board in the ballpark because it was under review. Other thing here, Joe, is that when Acunya did not run, the lead runner was on second base, So you have to bust it out of the box. In this case, there's a runner on first base and less than two outs. The runner literally as he should stopped halfway between first and second turns and watches the ball. He was literally stopped and flat footed halfway as the ball hit the wall. So as the better runner, you cannot be running full speed. Now that being said, you've got to at least run hard enough to have that second base be in play. You cannot, as kell Nick did, go all the way to the coach's box with the bat in your hands and you're looping out towards the warning track. You can't do that. You have to give an honest effort. But fans who are looking at this thinking he should be busting out of the box, No, you're gonna run down the runner in front of you. But to me, it comes down to the manager, and I love snit. I have no idea how he was unaware of Jared Kelnick not taking a proper route on that fly ball. I don't get it.

I agree with you on that, and I think there was some warnings, if you will, or situations with a kunya that had been dressed before it became public. But let me start with this, the most important part of all this Joe in my book, and I love Brian Snicker. He's a great manager. I love his story. He waited a long time to get a job. Win's a world series dedicated to the Brays organization for half a century. But you can't miss that play. And he literally was unaware of what Jared Kilnick did. He didn't know what he said until the next morning, this Sunday morning. That cannot happen. Where is your staff and I'm talking about coaching staff, analysts, everything. When a guy gets thrown out in this case a bang bang play your job as a manager to understand why, no matter where it is on the base paths. Did he get a bad jump? Was a secondary poor Did my coach not give him a good heads up? What happened to cause that run to come off the board or the runner off the field. Sneaker didn't do that. Inventory You can't miss that play. It's literally right in front of you. It was shown on the video board in the ballpark because it was under review. Other thing here, Joe, is that when Acunya did not run, the lead runner was on second base, So you have to bust it out of the box. In this case, there's a runner on first base and less than two outs. The runner literally as he should stopped halfway between first and second turns and watches the ball. He was literally stopped and flat footed halfway as the ball hit the wall. So as the better runner, you cannot be running full speed. Now that being said, you've got to at least run hard enough to have that second base be in play. You cannot, as kell Nick did, go all the way to the coach's box with the bat in your hands and you're looping out towards the warning track. You can't do that. You have to give an honest effort. But fans who are looking at this thinking he should be busting out of the box, No, you're gonna run down the runner in front of you. But to me, it comes down to the manager, and I love snit. I have no idea how he was unaware of Jared Kelnick not taking a proper route on that fly ball. I don't get it.

I will defend the point that sometimes you do not see something because you're following something else dugout wise with your eyeballs. But in this situation, first of all, the fact that he got thrown out at second base, you have to say what happened there? Right? You have to ask that question. There's no way I would not have asked that question. There's no way my bench coach would have said, or did you not see that? Did you see that? Or I would have asked a question, what happened I missed that? So it's difficult to understand why you did not know all of that. Even if you didn't actually see it, you do the post warnerm immediately and find out exactly what did happen right there. So I agree with you on that there's some incongruencies right there. That and I didn't even realize the fact that somebody was already on base, that nobody really portrayed that. When I watched the replays and stuff, I didn't understand that, and that there is something about that that the runner batter runner had to be aware of. But if you do miss something because you're looking elsewhere and something happens like you're talking about we're talking about, I would immediately ask a coach what happened right there, and I would find out immediately going to the clubhouse after the game, find out immediately. But the way, like I said, scoreboards and the speed of everything right now, it's hard to understand or imagine that he did not know.

I will defend the point that sometimes you do not see something because you're following something else dugout wise with your eyeballs. But in this situation, first of all, the fact that he got thrown out at second base, you have to say what happened there? Right? You have to ask that question. There's no way I would not have asked that question. There's no way my bench coach would have said, or did you not see that? Did you see that? Or I would have asked a question, what happened I missed that? So it's difficult to understand why you did not know all of that. Even if you didn't actually see it, you do the post warnerm immediately and find out exactly what did happen right there. So I agree with you on that there's some incongruencies right there. That and I didn't even realize the fact that somebody was already on base, that nobody really portrayed that. When I watched the replays and stuff, I didn't understand that, and that there is something about that that the runner batter runner had to be aware of. But if you do miss something because you're looking elsewhere and something happens like you're talking about we're talking about, I would immediately ask a coach what happened right there, and I would find out immediately going to the clubhouse after the game, find out immediately. But the way, like I said, scoreboards and the speed of everything right now, it's hard to understand or imagine that he did not know.

Yeah, I don't get it. I mean listen, a radio reporter asked him after the game, are you going to say something to Kelnick? And Brian Snicker said, what do you want me to say? Way to go? You hit the ball hard. He literally was unaware of it, even after the game. You have a million coaches, analysts, support people. You have iPads in the dugout that literally show every play after it happens. I know teams Joe that when a close play happens, on the basis, somebody on that staff is reviewing that play on an iPad every single play. It's right there for you. So even if you miss it in real time, and that's easy to do. We're all following the ball in the air, right, You're not really following the runner. You have too many people around you, you have too many access to replays, including on the Jumbo tron, to be completely unaware of it. You know, I hate to make something bigger out of this, Joe, but it does speak to me that there are some broken things here with the Braves. Lack of communication, lack of support really have in your back, and I know they've had a lot of coaching staff changes over the years. You mentioned this, the lack of other players stepping up and taking the lead bowl roll here and the fact that Ronald Acunya still has a sore spot from six years ago when the manager benched him that he's going to call him out and throw them one under the bus publicly. Now, I get why Ronald Lacunya feels offended that there's a double standard in play. I get that, but you can't And getting back to your phrase, Joe, praise publicly and criticized privately. You can't throw your manager under the brought in public like that. Again, I understand why he did that. So to me, there's a lot of things broken here about maybe This is all part of just getting off to a bad start, even though they're playing better lately. The Bray's got to do some inventory here about why something like this happened and what does it reflect.

Yeah, I don't get it. I mean listen, a radio reporter asked him after the game, are you going to say something to Kelnick? And Brian Snicker said, what do you want me to say? Way to go? You hit the ball hard. He literally was unaware of it, even after the game. You have a million coaches, analysts, support people. You have iPads in the dugout that literally show every play after it happens. I know teams Joe that when a close play happens, on the basis, somebody on that staff is reviewing that play on an iPad every single play. It's right there for you. So even if you miss it in real time, and that's easy to do. We're all following the ball in the air, right, You're not really following the runner. You have too many people around you, you have too many access to replays, including on the Jumbo tron, to be completely unaware of it. You know, I hate to make something bigger out of this, Joe, but it does speak to me that there are some broken things here with the Braves. Lack of communication, lack of support really have in your back, and I know they've had a lot of coaching staff changes over the years. You mentioned this, the lack of other players stepping up and taking the lead bowl roll here and the fact that Ronald Acunya still has a sore spot from six years ago when the manager benched him that he's going to call him out and throw them one under the bus publicly. Now, I get why Ronald Lacunya feels offended that there's a double standard in play. I get that, but you can't And getting back to your phrase, Joe, praise publicly and criticized privately. You can't throw your manager under the brought in public like that. Again, I understand why he did that. So to me, there's a lot of things broken here about maybe This is all part of just getting off to a bad start, even though they're playing better lately. The Bray's got to do some inventory here about why something like this happened and what does it reflect.

This is a perfect opportunity for a Jack Ryan moment. You remember we've talked about even in the book. Jack Ryan, the protagonist from the Clancy novels. He was advising the President and there was a drug situation gone wrong in the Caribbean where the President's one of his best friends was involved in. This ends up being killed in a pirate situation in the Caribbean, and they're trying to do the spin doctor thing. They're going with the spin doctors. We're trying to make excuse what happened in that this guy was just an acquaintance. I hardly ever knew him. But Jack Ryan steps in and says, no, I didn't only just know him. He's one of my best friends for a long time. So in situations like this, the best way to handle it is run toward it, never run away from it. Yeah, I might have missed it and I should have said something, and I'm going to address it because it was wrong and it's counter to everything we believe in as an Atlanta Brave. So it's pretty simple. Man. When you start deflecting, dissembling, whatever you want to call it, in a situation like this, it's gonna faster and it's going to become something larger than it deserves to be. Number one, number two. This is the part about the social media world that really is very pulsive to me. The fact that a young man would use it in a way to criticize his manager like this is not to make excuse me any sense, or it makes sense only because that's what goes on. But it's a really cowardly way to confront a situation like this. I believe it is a holy way, and I would like to believe in the future he'll never do something like this again. So in baseball, when you have these kind of issues, the best way to deflate it, dis armament and have it go away quickly is to run toward it, never run away from it.

This is a perfect opportunity for a Jack Ryan moment. You remember we've talked about even in the book. Jack Ryan, the protagonist from the Clancy novels. He was advising the President and there was a drug situation gone wrong in the Caribbean where the President's one of his best friends was involved in. This ends up being killed in a pirate situation in the Caribbean, and they're trying to do the spin doctor thing. They're going with the spin doctors. We're trying to make excuse what happened in that this guy was just an acquaintance. I hardly ever knew him. But Jack Ryan steps in and says, no, I didn't only just know him. He's one of my best friends for a long time. So in situations like this, the best way to handle it is run toward it, never run away from it. Yeah, I might have missed it and I should have said something, and I'm going to address it because it was wrong and it's counter to everything we believe in as an Atlanta Brave. So it's pretty simple. Man. When you start deflecting, dissembling, whatever you want to call it, in a situation like this, it's gonna faster and it's going to become something larger than it deserves to be. Number one, number two. This is the part about the social media world that really is very pulsive to me. The fact that a young man would use it in a way to criticize his manager like this is not to make excuse me any sense, or it makes sense only because that's what goes on. But it's a really cowardly way to confront a situation like this. I believe it is a holy way, and I would like to believe in the future he'll never do something like this again. So in baseball, when you have these kind of issues, the best way to deflate it, dis armament and have it go away quickly is to run toward it, never run away from it.

Yeah, all great points, Joe, and I want to ask you about your own experience with this. Like with Roald Acunya, I agree with you. I don't like calling out the manager at all like this. It's really just improper. But again, it speaks to the hurt that he still carries, right yeah, oh yeah, So something that needs to be addressed here between Snicker and Acuna Junior. Whether it's repaarable, it should be. But you one situation like this with BJ Upton as a young player with the Rays, did you guys get beyond that or was the hurt always there?

Yeah, all great points, Joe, and I want to ask you about your own experience with this. Like with Roald Acunya, I agree with you. I don't like calling out the manager at all like this. It's really just improper. But again, it speaks to the hurt that he still carries, right yeah, oh yeah, So something that needs to be addressed here between Snicker and Acuna Junior. Whether it's repaarable, it should be. But you one situation like this with BJ Upton as a young player with the Rays, did you guys get beyond that or was the hurt always there?

No, we got beyond it. I mean there was a other you know, with BJ and I such a great talent. I sincerely love this young man. He and I had a great relationship, but there was moments, not only that one. It was another moment that I'm not going to get into it specifically, but something happened in a game and I called him in after the game and I said some things to him that I later regretted, and eventually I called him back in a there two later and I apologized him for what I said and the fact that I should have handled it better. I should have presented in a different situation, not a different situation. I should have presented it in a better way, a more complete way, and I should have understood where he was coming from also, So I did put him out of a game, and again there was there was warnings before that. That's why I mentioned that with the Acunya thing. But the next time it was a lesson that I really learned. But like I said, I did call him in and I apologized him because I was wrong. I was wrong in the way I handled it. I was wrong what I said to him, and I wanted to know that. And then after that, I think the relationship really blossomed. So you have to admit to your mistakes sometimes as a manager, where as a an authoritata figure you use emotion in the wrong way and you got to really keep emotion out of these kinds of conversations. So I did include it. I was wrong, and I did apologize to and we became pretty tight after that.

No, we got beyond it. I mean there was a other you know, with BJ and I such a great talent. I sincerely love this young man. He and I had a great relationship, but there was moments, not only that one. It was another moment that I'm not going to get into it specifically, but something happened in a game and I called him in after the game and I said some things to him that I later regretted, and eventually I called him back in a there two later and I apologized him for what I said and the fact that I should have handled it better. I should have presented in a different situation, not a different situation. I should have presented it in a better way, a more complete way, and I should have understood where he was coming from also, So I did put him out of a game, and again there was there was warnings before that. That's why I mentioned that with the Acunya thing. But the next time it was a lesson that I really learned. But like I said, I did call him in and I apologized him because I was wrong. I was wrong in the way I handled it. I was wrong what I said to him, and I wanted to know that. And then after that, I think the relationship really blossomed. So you have to admit to your mistakes sometimes as a manager, where as a an authoritata figure you use emotion in the wrong way and you got to really keep emotion out of these kinds of conversations. So I did include it. I was wrong, and I did apologize to and we became pretty tight after that.

Very interesting stuff there, Joe. Really good insight. Question now is are the Braves in trouble? And again I'm not going to take one incident and say they're in trouble because of that, but I look at the standings, and I look at some of their injuries. I look at the way they've been offensively the last couple of years, but mostly I look at the National League and the way the National League West has really jumped forward with some really good depth there. Last year it took eighty nine wins to get into the postseason. That number may even be a little bit higher this year. So I think a path to the playoffs you have probably looking at having to win the NL East to get in. If you're in the East. Now that can change. It's very early. But where do you see the Braves visa VI the playoff picture in the National League?

Very interesting stuff there, Joe. Really good insight. Question now is are the Braves in trouble? And again I'm not going to take one incident and say they're in trouble because of that, but I look at the standings, and I look at some of their injuries. I look at the way they've been offensively the last couple of years, but mostly I look at the National League and the way the National League West has really jumped forward with some really good depth there. Last year it took eighty nine wins to get into the postseason. That number may even be a little bit higher this year. So I think a path to the playoffs you have probably looking at having to win the NL East to get in. If you're in the East. Now that can change. It's very early. But where do you see the Braves visa VI the playoff picture in the National League?

Well, I still think they have the capabilities, but also with what you've been saying that the part of their issues there are not necessarily that they have not been playing well, but all the undercurrent that could really be more detrimental than just not playing well that we know we're going to figure out and get beyond. They're still very talented. There's certain guys that have not been hitting well playing well to this point are going to do those kind of things. You know. They're pitching has been impacted a bit, But I agree with you that these little the undercurrent, the undertow, stuff that keeps pulling you down needs to be dealt with. This is maybe an opportunity or a time that I may have gotten away from my normal patterns of not having a team meeting during the course of a year or two address the situation, because this definitely needs to be addressed. I would have to believe that Sin's already spoken to Acuna regarding the situation. You could smooth over it, but it has to be sincerely rectified somehow. And again, not being in the building, not totally understanding the interpersonal relationships and how strong are weak they may be. It's hard to tell that, but the fact that they're underperforming is one thing. The other the point that they're underperforming with issues makes it more complicated.

Well, I still think they have the capabilities, but also with what you've been saying that the part of their issues there are not necessarily that they have not been playing well, but all the undercurrent that could really be more detrimental than just not playing well that we know we're going to figure out and get beyond. They're still very talented. There's certain guys that have not been hitting well playing well to this point are going to do those kind of things. You know. They're pitching has been impacted a bit, But I agree with you that these little the undercurrent, the undertow, stuff that keeps pulling you down needs to be dealt with. This is maybe an opportunity or a time that I may have gotten away from my normal patterns of not having a team meeting during the course of a year or two address the situation, because this definitely needs to be addressed. I would have to believe that Sin's already spoken to Acuna regarding the situation. You could smooth over it, but it has to be sincerely rectified somehow. And again, not being in the building, not totally understanding the interpersonal relationships and how strong are weak they may be. It's hard to tell that, but the fact that they're underperforming is one thing. The other the point that they're underperforming with issues makes it more complicated.

We'll keep an eye on that. Marldacuna Junior obviously coming back from the knee injury. We'll be back sometime in May, so he's working his way back and we'll see how he folds into that lineup. In the meantime, we have to talk about one of our favorite players, Joe show Hey Otani in the news again, this time for something off the field. We'll talk about that right after this on the Book of Joe. Welcome back to the Book of Joe. Hey Joe, did you see that show? Hey Otani is now a dad a baby daughter.

We'll keep an eye on that. Marldacuna Junior obviously coming back from the knee injury. We'll be back sometime in May, so he's working his way back and we'll see how he folds into that lineup. In the meantime, we have to talk about one of our favorite players, Joe show Hey Otani in the news again, this time for something off the field. We'll talk about that right after this on the Book of Joe. Welcome back to the Book of Joe. Hey Joe, did you see that show? Hey Otani is now a dad a baby daughter.

I did see that. It's spectacular, very happy for him and his wife. I've never met her happy for show. You know, I get to see him in a wonderful father. I mean, so he interacts with this with his what his pet dog or yeah, I mean so's he's got. He's got that nurturing spirit. He's the calm human being, calm influence. I'm certain he's going to be enamored with this for years to come, and possibly there's got to be a young show hey male at some point too. But yeah, I'm very happy for him and his family, and I think this could even set him on fire even more. You know the fact that because I've always believed once you become a parent, the words sacrifice really truly becomes defined and it really puts things in proper perspective in order in regards your life completely. So a lot going on there. Happy for him, heads up, heads up, baseball world, that might even get better.

I did see that. It's spectacular, very happy for him and his wife. I've never met her happy for show. You know, I get to see him in a wonderful father. I mean, so he interacts with this with his what his pet dog or yeah, I mean so's he's got. He's got that nurturing spirit. He's the calm human being, calm influence. I'm certain he's going to be enamored with this for years to come, and possibly there's got to be a young show hey male at some point too. But yeah, I'm very happy for him and his family, and I think this could even set him on fire even more. You know the fact that because I've always believed once you become a parent, the words sacrifice really truly becomes defined and it really puts things in proper perspective in order in regards your life completely. So a lot going on there. Happy for him, heads up, heads up, baseball world, that might even get better.

Yeah, that's a great point, Joe, because I totally agree with you. A lot of people jokingly or maybe not jokingly, talk about dad power. You know, guys who become dads all of a sudden get a little more pop in their bat. I'm with you on the perspective angle and listen, show has always a great perspective, right, I mean, he's just a gentleman. He's a pleasure to be around. I don't think he needed a wake up call. But yes, see, you don't sweat the small stuff. You realize what's important and it's outside of beyond your own agenda. It changes you, there's no question about it. And not that this guy needed to be changed, but in a good way. He will be changed. But how about this show? And I can almost guarantee you you mentioned a little show, Hey, Probably someday, I can almost guarantee you that there will be a son born to show Hey and his wife. I say that because when he was in high school, Ohtani sat down and he spelled out very specific goals that he wanted, and not only that, the goals he wanted at specific ages. Okay, he wrote down one of his goals by the age of eighteen, he wanted to join a major League baseball team. That tells you that was on his radar for a long time, to see if you could make it major league baseball. Obviously he did that, maybe not at eighteen, but he has been a very successful Major leaguer. By age twenty one, he wrote down again, this is a high schooler saying this, he wanted to be in a starting rotation and win sixteen games. Well he won fifteen, so he got close to that. Age twenty six, get married, check that box. By age twenty six, win the World Series. He checked that box again, these are not exactly at the same age age twenty seven, be a member of the Japan WBC team and MVP. He checked that box. By age thirty one, first daughter is born. Check that box. He's turning thirty one this summer. He actually had his first son being born by age twenty eight, so that is on his bucket list. First son being born at age twenty eight. Then at age thirty two, win a second World Series, age thirty four, win a third World Series. I'm not only give you the partial list. By the way, my favorite is by age forty. Yeah, he still wants to play till he'st forty. Throw a no hitter in my very last game. That's the high school or show. Hey Otani essentially scripting his life, and he keeps checking off these goals one by one, including the birth of his daughter.

Yeah, that's a great point, Joe, because I totally agree with you. A lot of people jokingly or maybe not jokingly, talk about dad power. You know, guys who become dads all of a sudden get a little more pop in their bat. I'm with you on the perspective angle and listen, show has always a great perspective, right, I mean, he's just a gentleman. He's a pleasure to be around. I don't think he needed a wake up call. But yes, see, you don't sweat the small stuff. You realize what's important and it's outside of beyond your own agenda. It changes you, there's no question about it. And not that this guy needed to be changed, but in a good way. He will be changed. But how about this show? And I can almost guarantee you you mentioned a little show, Hey, Probably someday, I can almost guarantee you that there will be a son born to show Hey and his wife. I say that because when he was in high school, Ohtani sat down and he spelled out very specific goals that he wanted, and not only that, the goals he wanted at specific ages. Okay, he wrote down one of his goals by the age of eighteen, he wanted to join a major League baseball team. That tells you that was on his radar for a long time, to see if you could make it major league baseball. Obviously he did that, maybe not at eighteen, but he has been a very successful Major leaguer. By age twenty one, he wrote down again, this is a high schooler saying this, he wanted to be in a starting rotation and win sixteen games. Well he won fifteen, so he got close to that. Age twenty six, get married, check that box. By age twenty six, win the World Series. He checked that box again, these are not exactly at the same age age twenty seven, be a member of the Japan WBC team and MVP. He checked that box. By age thirty one, first daughter is born. Check that box. He's turning thirty one this summer. He actually had his first son being born by age twenty eight, so that is on his bucket list. First son being born at age twenty eight. Then at age thirty two, win a second World Series, age thirty four, win a third World Series. I'm not only give you the partial list. By the way, my favorite is by age forty. Yeah, he still wants to play till he'st forty. Throw a no hitter in my very last game. That's the high school or show. Hey Otani essentially scripting his life, and he keeps checking off these goals one by one, including the birth of his daughter.

Well that just demonstrates, oh good he is. I mean, we talk about it. People are starting to you know, figure it out. But like as a manager for him watching this stuff from the sidelines, Yeah, I get it. I mean, don't you almost have to be that prescient, that committed, you know, having these these absolute etchton Stone goals attached in order to reach that's some pretty lofty, impressive, ambitious stuff. So you you almost have to set your mind. You have to set your mind to all that before it ever occurs. And on top of that, to be that ambitious, you got to be pretty good, and you got to know you're that good. I mean, that's we're talking major league based. We're not talking about you know, legion ball or Little league ball or your high school. Well, you're talking about the best of the best. And to create that kind of goal list, it's just above and beyond. And again it just speaks to he knows how good he is. Yeah, he is calm, he express his gratitude, he's humble, he's all those different things. But deep down inside, brother, he knows, he knows what's going on out there. He knows on a day that That's what he used to tell me, like he wanted to be in the lineup on the day that he pitched because he believed when he was in the lineup on the day that he pitched, we'd have a better chance to win because he knows that his bat would play on those days and help the Angels win. He knows that stuff. He doesn't think that stuff. He knows that stuff, and again in the best possible way that it never comes across in the wrong way. You never take him the wrong way, you never get upset with the conversation with him. There's a kind of a passive aggressiveness about him in a sense that he'll I'll never like push on you, and if you, you know, have a conversation that you may disagree just a little bit, it's kind of like, well, okay, that's fine, but I'll show you. I'll prove this to you. And he does. So, you know, kudos to him to have that kind of not only ability, but the confidence in himself. That's you know, you can't get more self confident than that, and what a wonderful tool to have. I mean, after all, how we successful we are not really a lot of times comes down to our self confidence and how we don't let it become nick or impacted over you know, bumps in the road. So again, none of its surprises. I was there, I saw it my own eyes, had the conversations nightly. God bless him. Man, it's it's we're seeing something that's never been done before. So I really enjoy it because I don't know the you're going to see it again in a long, long time.