The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio.

The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio.

Hey There, Welcome back.

Hey There, Welcome back.

It's the latest edition of the Book of Joe Podcasts with Me, Tom Berducci and Joe Madden. And this is a special and I mean a special Show Hey Otani edition because Show Hey Otani is not just baseball news, he is international news. And to me, Joe, there is there's no two people better to talk about mister Otani and his new future with the Dodgers than you, the manager who took off all the governors on this guy when he's with the Angels and just said go play.

It's the latest edition of the Book of Joe Podcasts with Me, Tom Berducci and Joe Madden. And this is a special and I mean a special Show Hey Otani edition because Show Hey Otani is not just baseball news, he is international news. And to me, Joe, there is there's no two people better to talk about mister Otani and his new future with the Dodgers than you, the manager who took off all the governors on this guy when he's with the Angels and just said go play.

And we're seeing the results of that kind of freedom.

And we're seeing the results of that kind of freedom.

And I've known Shoe Hay since he got to the big leagues and have done one of the very few sit down interviews he has done in the States for an in depth piece for Sports Illustrated back in twenty twenty. So I think we have some really unique insight into what makes this guy tick. And Joe, I'm gonna start off with I'm gonna call it a monologue, okay, and I'm curious to get your reaction to it, because I really there's something I want to say about this signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. We found out seven hundred million dollars for ten years, and all but twenty million dollars of that is being deferred ten years down the line with zero interest. And what I want you to do as a listener right now is put away your cynicism.

And I've known Shoe Hay since he got to the big leagues and have done one of the very few sit down interviews he has done in the States for an in depth piece for Sports Illustrated back in twenty twenty. So I think we have some really unique insight into what makes this guy tick. And Joe, I'm gonna start off with I'm gonna call it a monologue, okay, and I'm curious to get your reaction to it, because I really there's something I want to say about this signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. We found out seven hundred million dollars for ten years, and all but twenty million dollars of that is being deferred ten years down the line with zero interest. And what I want you to do as a listener right now is put away your cynicism.

Check it at the door. I know that's hard to do. In the world.

Check it at the door. I know that's hard to do. In the world.

Is sports big time money. Everybody's looking for an angle. Everybody's looking for a shortcut, a workaround, a hidden agenda.

Is sports big time money. Everybody's looking for an angle. Everybody's looking for a shortcut, a workaround, a hidden agenda.

Stop it. Put all that away. Pretend that you are.

Stop it. Put all that away. Pretend that you are.

Naive at that point, because a lot of people ask me what was the golden age of baseball, and you hear different answers to that. And the golden age of baseball is whenever you were ten years old, because that's when you look at baseball and fall in love with the game, with what Joe Madden calls first time eyes, where the world is full of wonder and you don't question what you see. You just bask in discovery of something that makes your heart skip a beat.

Naive at that point, because a lot of people ask me what was the golden age of baseball, and you hear different answers to that. And the golden age of baseball is whenever you were ten years old, because that's when you look at baseball and fall in love with the game, with what Joe Madden calls first time eyes, where the world is full of wonder and you don't question what you see. You just bask in discovery of something that makes your heart skip a beat.

That's baseball when you're ten years old.

That's baseball when you're ten years old.

Call me naive, but I look at Shoeotani and I see someone who's the best player in the world, probably the most talented baseball player who ever played this game, and he is still looking at baseball.

Call me naive, but I look at Shoeotani and I see someone who's the best player in the world, probably the most talented baseball player who ever played this game, and he is still looking at baseball.

Like a ten year old with first time eyes.

Like a ten year old with first time eyes.

There is a youthfulness about shoe Heotani and whatever his agenda is, that to me is different from everybody else and all that we are used to. And that's why I say check your cynicism at the door. Because when people heard that Shoeyotani was deferring ninety seven point one percent of his money, first reaction was, well, this is a workaround. Dodgers are trying to skirt the competitive balance tax. This is nothing but fuzzy accounting being counting at its best. It's not this idea originated with Shoeotani. He went to every club that he talked to, especially the Dodgers. He first started with his agent and he said, what if I defer all of my money? The agent looked into the competitive of the collective bargaining agreement and he saw, well, you can't play it for free. You have to take at least minimum salary, which next year is seven hundred and forty thousand dollars. They decided on two million dollars. Nice round number. That number next year Shoeyotani, who's the best player in the world, will be paid less than Austin Barnes, the backup catcher for the Dodgers. Why did Joeyotani do that?

There is a youthfulness about shoe Heotani and whatever his agenda is, that to me is different from everybody else and all that we are used to. And that's why I say check your cynicism at the door. Because when people heard that Shoeyotani was deferring ninety seven point one percent of his money, first reaction was, well, this is a workaround. Dodgers are trying to skirt the competitive balance tax. This is nothing but fuzzy accounting being counting at its best. It's not this idea originated with Shoeotani. He went to every club that he talked to, especially the Dodgers. He first started with his agent and he said, what if I defer all of my money? The agent looked into the competitive of the collective bargaining agreement and he saw, well, you can't play it for free. You have to take at least minimum salary, which next year is seven hundred and forty thousand dollars. They decided on two million dollars. Nice round number. That number next year Shoeyotani, who's the best player in the world, will be paid less than Austin Barnes, the backup catcher for the Dodgers. Why did Joeyotani do that?

Again? We go back to what we talk about.

Again? We go back to what we talk about.

A lot on this podcast about pure intentions. When your intentions are pure, when there's no hidden agendas, and it's not about self serving intentions, when it's about the greater good, about community and in this case team, those are pure intentions. Shoe Aotani did not want to hamstring his next team, which in this case is the Dodgers, by having seventy million dollars a year attached to a luxury tax figure, which prevents a club from.

A lot on this podcast about pure intentions. When your intentions are pure, when there's no hidden agendas, and it's not about self serving intentions, when it's about the greater good, about community and in this case team, those are pure intentions. Shoe Aotani did not want to hamstring his next team, which in this case is the Dodgers, by having seventy million dollars a year attached to a luxury tax figure, which prevents a club from.

Building around him.

Building around him.

And he told the Dodgers, you can take this money, defer it without interest, ninety seven percent of it, and I'm cool with it. He actually said meeting with Dodgers, he thought the whole number was somewhat laughable. That's the way he put it. He's not about the money. He's got plenty of it. If you want to be a cynic, you can say, Shoe Aotani next year, and this is true, he's going to make fifty million dollars next year in endorsement money and probably for the next ten years. He will be even with a two million dollar salary in twenty twenty four, the highest paid player in baseball by a lot because of what he makes off the field. So yes, he does have a nice backstop to this, but the fact is he did this to make sure that Dodgers can feel a competitive team around him. What this is doing is putting another twenty three point nine to four million dollars in the Dodgers' pockets that they otherwise would not have to spend. And that's why after signing it Otani, they met with Yashinobu Yamamoto, the top free agent pitcher coming out of Japan, and they have Josh Had Josh Hater, the relief pitcher, best relief pitcher on the market on their radar. This is all possible because Otani is deferring ninety seven point one percent of his salary. So this is a case. And Joe, I want your reaction to this because you know this guy so well. Where it's a unique player. We know that a two way player, but he's also a unique person. I cannot recall anything like this in my lifetime in sports. This is someone who is the best at what he does in his sport. And when it came down to the absolute leverage of free agency for the first time, because remember the first time he came over, when the Angel signed Otani, he was limited because he was not yet twenty five years old and he can only sign a minor league contract with a bonus limited to two point three million dollars. He left two hundred million dollars plus on the table rather than waiting two years to be twenty five and be unlimited free agent. So this is a guy I've never heard of it before, and I don't think we ever will reaches the top of his profession and he's a free agent, and what is important to him is not asking for perks, not asking for incentive clauses. If I'm the MVP, I get this much. Not asking for luxury boxes, private planes, trips home.

And he told the Dodgers, you can take this money, defer it without interest, ninety seven percent of it, and I'm cool with it. He actually said meeting with Dodgers, he thought the whole number was somewhat laughable. That's the way he put it. He's not about the money. He's got plenty of it. If you want to be a cynic, you can say, Shoe Aotani next year, and this is true, he's going to make fifty million dollars next year in endorsement money and probably for the next ten years. He will be even with a two million dollar salary in twenty twenty four, the highest paid player in baseball by a lot because of what he makes off the field. So yes, he does have a nice backstop to this, but the fact is he did this to make sure that Dodgers can feel a competitive team around him. What this is doing is putting another twenty three point nine to four million dollars in the Dodgers' pockets that they otherwise would not have to spend. And that's why after signing it Otani, they met with Yashinobu Yamamoto, the top free agent pitcher coming out of Japan, and they have Josh Had Josh Hater, the relief pitcher, best relief pitcher on the market on their radar. This is all possible because Otani is deferring ninety seven point one percent of his salary. So this is a case. And Joe, I want your reaction to this because you know this guy so well. Where it's a unique player. We know that a two way player, but he's also a unique person. I cannot recall anything like this in my lifetime in sports. This is someone who is the best at what he does in his sport. And when it came down to the absolute leverage of free agency for the first time, because remember the first time he came over, when the Angel signed Otani, he was limited because he was not yet twenty five years old and he can only sign a minor league contract with a bonus limited to two point three million dollars. He left two hundred million dollars plus on the table rather than waiting two years to be twenty five and be unlimited free agent. So this is a guy I've never heard of it before, and I don't think we ever will reaches the top of his profession and he's a free agent, and what is important to him is not asking for perks, not asking for incentive clauses. If I'm the MVP, I get this much. Not asking for luxury boxes, private planes, trips home.

Whatever it may be that we always hear about when.

Whatever it may be that we always hear about when.

People have the leverage for the first time at the top of the market to demand individual perks. Instead, he asked that the money be paid down the line so that in present day dollars, the Dodgers can build a team around him you can call me naive, and in this case, I'm happy. I'd rather be naive than cynical and find hidden agendas that are not there.

People have the leverage for the first time at the top of the market to demand individual perks. Instead, he asked that the money be paid down the line so that in present day dollars, the Dodgers can build a team around him you can call me naive, and in this case, I'm happy. I'd rather be naive than cynical and find hidden agendas that are not there.

That's my monologue.

That's my monologue.

I know it's a lot, Joe, and I know you know this guy well, but I think when you're talking about shoey Otani, you're talking about a unicorn of a player, a unicorn of a person, a unicorn of a contract.

I know it's a lot, Joe, and I know you know this guy well, but I think when you're talking about shoey Otani, you're talking about a unicorn of a player, a unicorn of a person, a unicorn of a contract.

Well, I mean, there's really little to add to that. You've nailed it pretty well, like you typically do. As you're going through all of that, I had written a note down. I didn't even know this, but you kind of covered it. His agenda is to do the right thing. That's what he does. I mean, that's he wakes up in the morning. I don't care if it's baseball, his life, friends, whatever, whatever it is, I don't know. I don't even not met his family. I've heard about his baseball coach. But to me, the impression he made upon me was his agenda on a daily basis is to do the right thing.

Well, I mean, there's really little to add to that. You've nailed it pretty well, like you typically do. As you're going through all of that, I had written a note down. I didn't even know this, but you kind of covered it. His agenda is to do the right thing. That's what he does. I mean, that's he wakes up in the morning. I don't care if it's baseball, his life, friends, whatever, whatever it is, I don't know. I don't even not met his family. I've heard about his baseball coach. But to me, the impression he made upon me was his agenda on a daily basis is to do the right thing.

What does that mean?

What does that mean?

I mean, whether how he interacts with people, what kind of work he is he gonna put in today? I'm gonna do the best I possibly can today to help my team win. I got to get better at this particular pitch. Who do I need to speak to about that by hitting him off a little bit? What kind of work do I need to do today? In the banding cage. I can't speak to his personal life and regarding what there is important to him, like baseball is important to him. But regardless, and like you've covered with the way he thinks, his agenda is to do the right thing. And then my second thought was, and had you covered again? They had to have known. He had to have known or the Dodge had simultaneously knew that this kind of contract would be amenable to both sides. He had this in his mind. I don't know if he had heard about it before somebody put in his head. I can't take this something that he thought about on his own, but he definitely was there and he mulled over for a period of time until he decided, Yeah, this sounds good and I this is very workable.

I mean, whether how he interacts with people, what kind of work he is he gonna put in today? I'm gonna do the best I possibly can today to help my team win. I got to get better at this particular pitch. Who do I need to speak to about that by hitting him off a little bit? What kind of work do I need to do today? In the banding cage. I can't speak to his personal life and regarding what there is important to him, like baseball is important to him. But regardless, and like you've covered with the way he thinks, his agenda is to do the right thing. And then my second thought was, and had you covered again? They had to have known. He had to have known or the Dodge had simultaneously knew that this kind of contract would be amenable to both sides. He had this in his mind. I don't know if he had heard about it before somebody put in his head. I can't take this something that he thought about on his own, but he definitely was there and he mulled over for a period of time until he decided, Yeah, this sounds good and I this is very workable.

Makes all the sense in the world.

Makes all the sense in the world.

Is really is going to permit our team to be the best team they can be for a long period of time. We win as much as you possibly can, which has been is agenda from from Jump Street. So those two things the right thing, and he did his research and I'm sure Nez did too.

Is really is going to permit our team to be the best team they can be for a long period of time. We win as much as you possibly can, which has been is agenda from from Jump Street. So those two things the right thing, and he did his research and I'm sure Nez did too.

Regarding how the Dodgers.

Regarding how the Dodgers.

Would react to all of this, last point, I will get it back to you, was like, okay for those that don't believe it. And again, I just have a fraction of his lifestyle, but the guy really doesn't.

Would react to all of this, last point, I will get it back to you, was like, okay for those that don't believe it. And again, I just have a fraction of his lifestyle, but the guy really doesn't.

He's not as gravy.

He's not as gravy.

You've already mentioned that he's not an extravagant personality or person I don't know what his home looks like in Newport. I have no idea what the maybe the compound looks like in Japan. I have no idea, but I would bet that it's nice, but it's not over the top nice. And I would bet I know there's not parties all night long. I know that he's, like you said, he's not flying all over the place. I know that even after a game on the road, he's not, you know, frequenting the best nightclub in town.

You've already mentioned that he's not an extravagant personality or person I don't know what his home looks like in Newport. I have no idea what the maybe the compound looks like in Japan. I have no idea, but I would bet that it's nice, but it's not over the top nice. And I would bet I know there's not parties all night long. I know that he's, like you said, he's not flying all over the place. I know that even after a game on the road, he's not, you know, frequenting the best nightclub in town.

He doesn't do those things.

He doesn't do those things.

So whatever amount of money he's made, how much he's made, how he's going how much he's going to continue to make, I'm curious eventually where that's and money's gonna end up with what the altruistic component is to all that with him, because there that's it. I mean, it's about him being a really great baseball player, a the best ever. That's what he wants to be. He's on his way. It's hard to argue that he's not already. That's number one. And then how many people can he help along the way? Those are the two things that I think that he's made of. Again, I love to sit down with his parents, teachers, somebody that could describe young show A in junior high school, high school, and of course his coaches that he's had in the past, because I know I'd have to bet one hundred thousand percent that nothing has changed. He's been this particular fellow his whole life, and I'm here to tell you, I don't care how much money you pay, He's not going to change from here on out.

So whatever amount of money he's made, how much he's made, how he's going how much he's going to continue to make, I'm curious eventually where that's and money's gonna end up with what the altruistic component is to all that with him, because there that's it. I mean, it's about him being a really great baseball player, a the best ever. That's what he wants to be. He's on his way. It's hard to argue that he's not already. That's number one. And then how many people can he help along the way? Those are the two things that I think that he's made of. Again, I love to sit down with his parents, teachers, somebody that could describe young show A in junior high school, high school, and of course his coaches that he's had in the past, because I know I'd have to bet one hundred thousand percent that nothing has changed. He's been this particular fellow his whole life, and I'm here to tell you, I don't care how much money you pay, He's not going to change from here on out.

That's so well said, Joe, because I think you hit on something here when you mentioned that, even you as his manager of for three years, you really don't know, like what's a big part of his life other than baseball obviously, And that's also what strikes me, Joe, is that shoot is the most expensive if you will, or the richest athlete in the world individual athlete. And he's done it without selling himself. In other words, his value is completely wrapped up in the fact that he is a two way baseball player with elite skills. There's not a brand associated with his personality. We don't know a lot about him, you know. I don't think he's trying to get a million followers on TikTok. He doesn't do a lot of interviews. He is completely dedicated to the game of baseball. He's got two hobbies, playing baseball and training for baseball, and ya he likes to play video games too.

That's so well said, Joe, because I think you hit on something here when you mentioned that, even you as his manager of for three years, you really don't know, like what's a big part of his life other than baseball obviously, And that's also what strikes me, Joe, is that shoot is the most expensive if you will, or the richest athlete in the world individual athlete. And he's done it without selling himself. In other words, his value is completely wrapped up in the fact that he is a two way baseball player with elite skills. There's not a brand associated with his personality. We don't know a lot about him, you know. I don't think he's trying to get a million followers on TikTok. He doesn't do a lot of interviews. He is completely dedicated to the game of baseball. He's got two hobbies, playing baseball and training for baseball, and ya he likes to play video games too.

That's about it.

That's about it.

So it's not like he went out there and tried to sell himself as some kind of personality or brand.

So it's not like he went out there and tried to sell himself as some kind of personality or brand.

I think that is so refreshing.

I think that is so refreshing.

This year the Oxford English Dictionary, every year they pick one word to be the word that it's most symbolic in terms of what people are really researching and using and trying to decipher.

This year the Oxford English Dictionary, every year they pick one word to be the word that it's most symbolic in terms of what people are really researching and using and trying to decipher.

The word.

The word.

This year they chose was authentic. Think about that, Joe. We live a day and age where people are finding the word authentic as unusual and what does it mean and what's the true definition of it that used to be a given that that's where you began.

This year they chose was authentic. Think about that, Joe. We live a day and age where people are finding the word authentic as unusual and what does it mean and what's the true definition of it that used to be a given that that's where you began.

Now we're trying to get back to authentic.

Now we're trying to get back to authentic.

And when I think it's joey Otani, I think of authentic. He's not trying to craft and image a brand and then capitalize on that. He plays things close to the best. I think he's mostly an introvert. He's an incredibly gracious, humble person. You've seen him in the dugout, Joe. If there's a gum wrapper on the floor, he picks it up. He's a neat freak besides everything else that he does. So that's why I say you really have to check your cynicism. Nobody's perfect. I'm not saying that, but I'm saying this guy is driven by I think altruistic means. And by the way, in terms of you know, what's the charitable component to this. I'm sure he'll do more, but he recently gave gloves baseball gloves to just about every elementary school in a huge area. We're talking like sixty thousand baseball gloves, and that is so show he as well, providing others and hoping that they can find the same joy in this game that he has.

And when I think it's joey Otani, I think of authentic. He's not trying to craft and image a brand and then capitalize on that. He plays things close to the best. I think he's mostly an introvert. He's an incredibly gracious, humble person. You've seen him in the dugout, Joe. If there's a gum wrapper on the floor, he picks it up. He's a neat freak besides everything else that he does. So that's why I say you really have to check your cynicism. Nobody's perfect. I'm not saying that, but I'm saying this guy is driven by I think altruistic means. And by the way, in terms of you know, what's the charitable component to this. I'm sure he'll do more, but he recently gave gloves baseball gloves to just about every elementary school in a huge area. We're talking like sixty thousand baseball gloves, and that is so show he as well, providing others and hoping that they can find the same joy in this game that he has.

Well, a couple of things there. Yeah, it's days easy because he doesn't have to fabricate anything. He just wakes up and he is himself. He doesn't have to think about any kind of like you're saying, branding any again, any fabrication. Authentic is the correct word for him. And with that duff tailing, maybe we already know everything about h we're looking for other things to know about it. Maybe we know everything. Why does it have to be complicated? Why doesn't have to have so many layers? Why can't it just be exactly what we're seeing?

Well, a couple of things there. Yeah, it's days easy because he doesn't have to fabricate anything. He just wakes up and he is himself. He doesn't have to think about any kind of like you're saying, branding any again, any fabrication. Authentic is the correct word for him. And with that duff tailing, maybe we already know everything about h we're looking for other things to know about it. Maybe we know everything. Why does it have to be complicated? Why doesn't have to have so many layers? Why can't it just be exactly what we're seeing?

Who he is?

Who he is?

He is developed this easy way of living, just like authenticity. This is who I am every day. When I go to the ballpark. You ask me a question, I answer it straight up. Went down to the cage and do my work. I get ready for the game. I talked to the pitching coach, the bullpen coach, my catcher. After the game's over, I win, I go back home. Certain kind of food I want to like to I like to have he payperrings it by might call his family, who knows, But I mean every day I believe is wrote there's there's an absolute rhythm to his.

He is developed this easy way of living, just like authenticity. This is who I am every day. When I go to the ballpark. You ask me a question, I answer it straight up. Went down to the cage and do my work. I get ready for the game. I talked to the pitching coach, the bullpen coach, my catcher. After the game's over, I win, I go back home. Certain kind of food I want to like to I like to have he payperrings it by might call his family, who knows, But I mean every day I believe is wrote there's there's an absolute rhythm to his.

Day that he loves.

Day that he loves.

I would think that if you try to throw like a little wrench in there at some point, that would be the one thing that would possibly show something about Showy that we don't realize. But maybe we know everything. Why are we looking for anything else? Believe it, this is who this fella is. And like I said, and we could all think about that too, the day's easy if we just go about being ourselves.

I would think that if you try to throw like a little wrench in there at some point, that would be the one thing that would possibly show something about Showy that we don't realize. But maybe we know everything. Why are we looking for anything else? Believe it, this is who this fella is. And like I said, and we could all think about that too, the day's easy if we just go about being ourselves.

It's very easy.

It's very easy.

Well, I had some great advice, and maybe there's not, you know, some hidden side of a show a Otani. If we take him for what we do know, why isn't that enough? And it's certainly good enough? I think, And Joe, you've seen this. He's so intentional about everything that he does. I see him on his throat days with Epey, you know, basically measuring the speed or rpns of everything he throws. Everything is done very purposefully and yes, part of a routine as well. And I think in this case now he's coming to the Dodgers not as the highest paid athlete in the world, not as a seventy million dollar a year player, but as a two million dollar a year player. Not literally, I understand the money's coming at the back end, But in terms of what he did for his teammates, he is not coming in as this is my team.

Well, I had some great advice, and maybe there's not, you know, some hidden side of a show a Otani. If we take him for what we do know, why isn't that enough? And it's certainly good enough? I think, And Joe, you've seen this. He's so intentional about everything that he does. I see him on his throat days with Epey, you know, basically measuring the speed or rpns of everything he throws. Everything is done very purposefully and yes, part of a routine as well. And I think in this case now he's coming to the Dodgers not as the highest paid athlete in the world, not as a seventy million dollar a year player, but as a two million dollar a year player. Not literally, I understand the money's coming at the back end, But in terms of what he did for his teammates, he is not coming in as this is my team.

I'm a seventy million dollar player.

I'm a seventy million dollar player.

He's coming in already established as an authentic teammate, and it's a great group of guys they have in that club, bout with Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith.

He's coming in already established as an authentic teammate, and it's a great group of guys they have in that club, bout with Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith.

He just slide in there.

He just slide in there.

And it's weird to say this, Joe, but as a complimentary player, listen, his star is brighter than anybody. He's the only international star that this game has, truly international, So it will be about him, don't get me wrong. But in terms of the framework or the chemistry of the club, he's a true teammate right now and not some higher gun coming in to take over as his team.

And it's weird to say this, Joe, but as a complimentary player, listen, his star is brighter than anybody. He's the only international star that this game has, truly international, So it will be about him, don't get me wrong. But in terms of the framework or the chemistry of the club, he's a true teammate right now and not some higher gun coming in to take over as his team.

Inadvertently, you already described something that I think is absolutely beautiful about him. In any great athlete, and especially in today's twenty twenty three world, he combines tech with feel as good as anybody.

Inadvertently, you already described something that I think is absolutely beautiful about him. In any great athlete, and especially in today's twenty twenty three world, he combines tech with feel as good as anybody.

He does like everything.

He does like everything.

When he's doing things, epay will fall him around with like these little mechanisms that are measuring different with it, he said, spin, You know, I don't even know exit velocity when he's hitting backspeed, all this stuff. They're always checking it up. But when the game begins, nobody has better feel than he does. Nobody from what I seen when I watch him pitch, and his ability to create game and progress as ability to watch a hitter and make an adjustment based on what he's saying and based on how I feeling that day, What do I got today, I'm gonna use more of this less of that. Again, he can't demphasize this enough, and I think that's the beauty of him. And again's not maybe spoken about his ability to combine new world with old world ways, because after all, his personality cannot be more old school than any personality you've met in the recent I don't know, fifteen twenty years. And then again, when you watch him prep, his prep really does utilize a lot of the things that are happening today. But when the game begins, When the game begins, this fella here is as for me as as old school as against.

When he's doing things, epay will fall him around with like these little mechanisms that are measuring different with it, he said, spin, You know, I don't even know exit velocity when he's hitting backspeed, all this stuff. They're always checking it up. But when the game begins, nobody has better feel than he does. Nobody from what I seen when I watch him pitch, and his ability to create game and progress as ability to watch a hitter and make an adjustment based on what he's saying and based on how I feeling that day, What do I got today, I'm gonna use more of this less of that. Again, he can't demphasize this enough, and I think that's the beauty of him. And again's not maybe spoken about his ability to combine new world with old world ways, because after all, his personality cannot be more old school than any personality you've met in the recent I don't know, fifteen twenty years. And then again, when you watch him prep, his prep really does utilize a lot of the things that are happening today. But when the game begins, When the game begins, this fella here is as for me as as old school as against.

He's out there to beat you.

He's out there to beat you.

He's out there to help his team win, and that's probably the only two things that matter to him on a daily basis.

He's out there to help his team win, and that's probably the only two things that matter to him on a daily basis.

I love to hear that.

I love to hear that.

And if you watched him play in the WBC going down to the bullpen to warm up while being the DH and coming in to close the game out and how badly he wanted that. And if you rewind the tape before the game, he was the one who stood up in the clubhouse and told his teammates on the WBC Japanese team, we know all those players on the other side, we've admired them, but the admiration has to stop here. We cannot be intimidated by the names that we're playing against. And he took charge. And I think he saw the way he struck out Mike Trout with that last pitch. He took charge there. So now you're looking at a Dodgers team that has not played a meaningless game in eleven years, eleven straight years in the postseason show. He has played six years in the big leagues and has never finished less than ten games from first place, never been in a postseason game, has played way too many meaningless games.

And if you watched him play in the WBC going down to the bullpen to warm up while being the DH and coming in to close the game out and how badly he wanted that. And if you rewind the tape before the game, he was the one who stood up in the clubhouse and told his teammates on the WBC Japanese team, we know all those players on the other side, we've admired them, but the admiration has to stop here. We cannot be intimidated by the names that we're playing against. And he took charge. And I think he saw the way he struck out Mike Trout with that last pitch. He took charge there. So now you're looking at a Dodgers team that has not played a meaningless game in eleven years, eleven straight years in the postseason show. He has played six years in the big leagues and has never finished less than ten games from first place, never been in a postseason game, has played way too many meaningless games.

And that's what I'm excited about.

And that's what I'm excited about.

This is great for baseball for him to be with the Los Angeles Dodgers competing for World Series.

This is great for baseball for him to be with the Los Angeles Dodgers competing for World Series.

Yeah, I'll say it every year. The Dodgers should have a chance to win.

Yeah, I'll say it every year. The Dodgers should have a chance to win.

Every year for the next ten years with their resources, the way the organization has run, and we're gonna see show Way at its best when the games matter the most. We're going to take a quick break, But I really want your take on something that came up during his free agency when there was believe it or not, belly aching that he wasn't running some dog and pony show as a free agent.

Every year for the next ten years with their resources, the way the organization has run, and we're gonna see show Way at its best when the games matter the most. We're going to take a quick break, But I really want your take on something that came up during his free agency when there was believe it or not, belly aching that he wasn't running some dog and pony show as a free agent.

Back right after this.

Back right after this.

So Joe, I mentioned I wanted to ask you about his free agency, but I know I cut you off there before our last break. You had something to say, and I always want to hear whatever you have to say, especially when it comes to show Hey.

So Joe, I mentioned I wanted to ask you about his free agency, but I know I cut you off there before our last break. You had something to say, and I always want to hear whatever you have to say, especially when it comes to show Hey.

Well, the thing is that.

Well, the thing is that.

Whether you like the WBC or not, and I'm definitely on the fence of that, I know you like it more than I do. That one event probably catapulted him more than anybody else At this point, at least, I'm watching that whole thing inferral and write down when I heard about the speech. Something he's not doesn't normally do like this leadership opponent of him, This actual visible leadership component begins to show through, and then the moment he punches out troudy and fires his glove in the air. I've never seen that kind of well, first of all, he's never had anything to celebrate like that with the Angels up to that point. But the combination of all of that and the fact that that stage was really important to him, and again it's not that he was contrived in any way, but it wasn't lost on him. He knew the impact that that could have on this upcoming year for himself again, his place in the game as you know, the best baseball player in the world right now and down the road, and then anybody that wants to draw comparisons back to the guy number three back.

Whether you like the WBC or not, and I'm definitely on the fence of that, I know you like it more than I do. That one event probably catapulted him more than anybody else At this point, at least, I'm watching that whole thing inferral and write down when I heard about the speech. Something he's not doesn't normally do like this leadership opponent of him, This actual visible leadership component begins to show through, and then the moment he punches out troudy and fires his glove in the air. I've never seen that kind of well, first of all, he's never had anything to celebrate like that with the Angels up to that point. But the combination of all of that and the fact that that stage was really important to him, and again it's not that he was contrived in any way, but it wasn't lost on him. He knew the impact that that could have on this upcoming year for himself again, his place in the game as you know, the best baseball player in the world right now and down the road, and then anybody that wants to draw comparisons back to the guy number three back.

In the day, Okay, here we go. This is this is what I got.

In the day, Okay, here we go. This is this is what I got.

So yeah, it's not like it's a it's definitely it comes from a sense of humility, but there's also a lot of pride in there that he wants to be the best ever. And so I think that platform there could not have been more perfect for him regarding his opportunity to speak up and then to throw the last pitch, the last out of the game and celebrate in a way that he hasn't had a chance to to this point and showed you all the emotion that he actually has built up inside.

So yeah, it's not like it's a it's definitely it comes from a sense of humility, but there's also a lot of pride in there that he wants to be the best ever. And so I think that platform there could not have been more perfect for him regarding his opportunity to speak up and then to throw the last pitch, the last out of the game and celebrate in a way that he hasn't had a chance to to this point and showed you all the emotion that he actually has built up inside.

It was a great moment. No offense to the Texas Rangers.

It was a great moment. No offense to the Texas Rangers.

Their run was incredible, undefeated on the road the postseason, but Shoeyotani is striking out Mike Trout to end the WBC in a one run game. That was the best moment of the twenty twenty three baseball season. There's no doubt about that. And there's big moments coming with that. LA Dodger team for Shoeotani was this was something that was bound to happen. I believe Joe since he was in high school and the Dodgers thought he was going to sign with them, and it was Heideki Kordiama, his manager with the Fighters, who I called the Joe Madden of Japan because he connects with people and he's not afraid to think outside the box. He was the one first of all, he wore purple underwear would go meet Otani because that was Otani's high.

Their run was incredible, undefeated on the road the postseason, but Shoeyotani is striking out Mike Trout to end the WBC in a one run game. That was the best moment of the twenty twenty three baseball season. There's no doubt about that. And there's big moments coming with that. LA Dodger team for Shoeotani was this was something that was bound to happen. I believe Joe since he was in high school and the Dodgers thought he was going to sign with them, and it was Heideki Kordiama, his manager with the Fighters, who I called the Joe Madden of Japan because he connects with people and he's not afraid to think outside the box. He was the one first of all, he wore purple underwear would go meet Otani because that was Otani's high.

School color was purple. That's the way he thinks.

School color was purple. That's the way he thinks.

And he gave Otani a shirt and it had a bunch of birds flying on a T shirt and it basically said spread your wings, dare to dream.

And he gave Otani a shirt and it had a bunch of birds flying on a T shirt and it basically said spread your wings, dare to dream.

And he challenged him.

And he challenged him.

He said, walk down a path, and nobody has walked down and that meant being a two way player. But do it in Japan first, establish a bona fides is a two way player. And when you're ready, go fly, go fly to MLB instead of signing with an MLP team at seventeen or eighteen, you're probably going to get specialized pretty quickly in the major league system.

He said, walk down a path, and nobody has walked down and that meant being a two way player. But do it in Japan first, establish a bona fides is a two way player. And when you're ready, go fly, go fly to MLB instead of signing with an MLP team at seventeen or eighteen, you're probably going to get specialized pretty quickly in the major league system.

And he did that.

And he did that.

And when it was time when Otani wanted to leave, Koreamo was true to his word and he said, go ahead, you're ready.

And when it was time when Otani wanted to leave, Koreamo was true to his word and he said, go ahead, you're ready.

They didn't try to keep him. They could have.

They didn't try to keep him. They could have.

They posted him, let him go, and that kind of mutual trust he's trying to establish now with the Dodgers. But this gets me back, Joe to the free agency of showe Aotani, because there were people in the media complaining that it was not good for base that his free agency was so secretive. I guess people wanted the dog and Pony show. They wanted the daily leaks, they wanted mystery teams involved, you know, the usual bs that goes along with free agency, and people think it's fun to follow on a daily basis when actually nothing's happening. And it's it's basically a fictional narrative to create a market for a player. If you've been watching show a Otani for the last six years, folks, it's not who this guy is. Again, He's basically an introvert who loves to play baseball.

They posted him, let him go, and that kind of mutual trust he's trying to establish now with the Dodgers. But this gets me back, Joe to the free agency of showe Aotani, because there were people in the media complaining that it was not good for base that his free agency was so secretive. I guess people wanted the dog and Pony show. They wanted the daily leaks, they wanted mystery teams involved, you know, the usual bs that goes along with free agency, and people think it's fun to follow on a daily basis when actually nothing's happening. And it's it's basically a fictional narrative to create a market for a player. If you've been watching show a Otani for the last six years, folks, it's not who this guy is. Again, He's basically an introvert who loves to play baseball.

That's it.

That's it.

He's not going to do anything self serving as a free agent that he hadn't been for six years. I could not believe the criticism of Otani and the agent, nez Bulelo, that they weren't running some you know, leak fest if you will. It's not good for baseball. You know, that's not his job as a free agent. His job is as the agent to get his client the best possible deal and to do it in a way that the client wishes. And for Otani to have it be a public spectacle, that's not who he is.

He's not going to do anything self serving as a free agent that he hadn't been for six years. I could not believe the criticism of Otani and the agent, nez Bulelo, that they weren't running some you know, leak fest if you will. It's not good for baseball. You know, that's not his job as a free agent. His job is as the agent to get his client the best possible deal and to do it in a way that the client wishes. And for Otani to have it be a public spectacle, that's not who he is.

I just did not understand that criticism at all.

I just did not understand that criticism at all.

Well, and then I think this is driven by social media as much as anything, because there's such a emphasis on being the first one to report something. So that's been my take Over the last several years, it's become increasingly more important. It seems that whoever gets the credit to be the first person reports something win somehow, and of course more recently we've seen that there was some kind of wrong information giving.

Well, and then I think this is driven by social media as much as anything, because there's such a emphasis on being the first one to report something. So that's been my take Over the last several years, it's become increasingly more important. It seems that whoever gets the credit to be the first person reports something win somehow, and of course more recently we've seen that there was some kind of wrong information giving.

With all this. So that's the vehicle.

With all this. So that's the vehicle.

I think that drives us kind of a narrative regarding criticizing show Ay and Nez, because yeah, you're right. I mean, this is like so personal for me. You should be willing to accept what the person or the group's willing to share. There's no other it's there. They should be he should be in control of this. Humanizations should be in control of this. If they're more comfortable with more information being put out there, fine, and if they're not, fine, But I do that's the one part that I this is my I don't know if it's just my personal opinion, but I'd prefer not having that be part of the landscape. Or it's so important it seems to be. There's almost like a you get credit, get you get credit in school, you get you know, you get a better degree. If in fact, you're able to report something first, it just means you might have more sources than somebody else. All that means. But I think that's it, And to their credit, they didn't cave under it.

I think that drives us kind of a narrative regarding criticizing show Ay and Nez, because yeah, you're right. I mean, this is like so personal for me. You should be willing to accept what the person or the group's willing to share. There's no other it's there. They should be he should be in control of this. Humanizations should be in control of this. If they're more comfortable with more information being put out there, fine, and if they're not, fine, But I do that's the one part that I this is my I don't know if it's just my personal opinion, but I'd prefer not having that be part of the landscape. Or it's so important it seems to be. There's almost like a you get credit, get you get credit in school, you get you know, you get a better degree. If in fact, you're able to report something first, it just means you might have more sources than somebody else. All that means. But I think that's it, And to their credit, they didn't cave under it.

That's a great point Joe, and I'll kind of flip that. What you said is, you know, people looking to get credit for basically being first. I get that it can be wrong. I understand that completely. But what's missing here is the flip side of that is that when you're wrong. Remember when you were in school and you saw that ritting from your teacher on whether it's a math test or an essay that you wrote. Man, all about you, but those hurt. Man, You're being told no, that's wrong, and you wanted to do better the next time. So there was a price from making mistakes. In this case, I think we've lost the price associated with being wrong. With things like this, people just like, uh oh, well he was wrong. It was entertaining, you know, Shoey O'tani never got on a plane to Toronto. How do you write that when the sources are saying can't confirm or deny, But I wouldn't write that.

That's a great point Joe, and I'll kind of flip that. What you said is, you know, people looking to get credit for basically being first. I get that it can be wrong. I understand that completely. But what's missing here is the flip side of that is that when you're wrong. Remember when you were in school and you saw that ritting from your teacher on whether it's a math test or an essay that you wrote. Man, all about you, but those hurt. Man, You're being told no, that's wrong, and you wanted to do better the next time. So there was a price from making mistakes. In this case, I think we've lost the price associated with being wrong. With things like this, people just like, uh oh, well he was wrong. It was entertaining, you know, Shoey O'tani never got on a plane to Toronto. How do you write that when the sources are saying can't confirm or deny, But I wouldn't write that.

I mean, how do you miss that?

I mean, how do you miss that?

I get it that the race to be number one to have something interesting, and Otani, as I said, is the only true international star in baseball. So anything associated with him, you realize, is going to be viral. His name is going to get you more clicks period. Totally understand that. But I think Joe, we've reached a point where being wrong doesn't even matter.

I get it that the race to be number one to have something interesting, and Otani, as I said, is the only true international star in baseball. So anything associated with him, you realize, is going to be viral. His name is going to get you more clicks period. Totally understand that. But I think Joe, we've reached a point where being wrong doesn't even matter.

That's awesome because that's true. And what happens is you kind of alluded to it. It's just the big old situation where you say, oh, my bad, my bad.

That's awesome because that's true. And what happens is you kind of alluded to it. It's just the big old situation where you say, oh, my bad, my bad.

You know I was wrong.

You know I was wrong.

Okay, let's move on, but you don't even consider potential. Heard it did for the person that you put in that situation again, you say, did it?

Okay, let's move on, but you don't even consider potential. Heard it did for the person that you put in that situation again, you say, did it?

Well? I understand.

Well? I understand.

I mean if I'm competing in a sense, and this isn't a journalistic sense, yeah, I want to be ahead of everybody else, of course I do, but not to the point where I could be a little bit out of control, not vetted enough. Again, as you describe that, that's the part that's really dangerous. And then on top of that, the speed of information today really encourages you to attempt to be first even more, and then probably encourages the potential to be wrong even more. You know that better than I do. I'm just talking from a distance right now, so I listen. The non vetic component of social media is will always be a sticking point for me where amateurs get to play professionals. And that's the part that I don't know that you know, people that really follow closely enough really step back and analyze whether or not there is validation to what I'm reading right now, or do I just accepted blindly. That's my big concern with all of that. And then again, when in a situation like with Showhay, the reports go sideways wrong or or critical, like you talked about, just playing critical based on you know, your own personal opinion, your own personal perspective, which you have quite a podium for, whereas the player or the in this situation, he does not. And then and then how about he gets up and apologizes for taking so long? And I would I would bet that part of how that all came down motivated him to think that he had to apologize for him for in his mind and as his mind, doing the right thing. That's that's where all this stuff, to me gets skewed. And that's where I really encourage people to make up your own mind about what you see and what you read. We're all influenced, Listen, We're all influenced. So we always we all have a little bit of a play reist in our lives because we get. We learn in a sense and by other teachers, things that we have read, observations we make based on our own life experiences. I get that. But at the end of the day, please, I might encourage everybody. I encourage my players and I actually we're in the shirt today. No regurgitation. Tell me what you think, not what you've heard. And I think there's so many people that just have to be able to regrigitate what they've heard because they really don't know what they think.

I mean if I'm competing in a sense, and this isn't a journalistic sense, yeah, I want to be ahead of everybody else, of course I do, but not to the point where I could be a little bit out of control, not vetted enough. Again, as you describe that, that's the part that's really dangerous. And then on top of that, the speed of information today really encourages you to attempt to be first even more, and then probably encourages the potential to be wrong even more. You know that better than I do. I'm just talking from a distance right now, so I listen. The non vetic component of social media is will always be a sticking point for me where amateurs get to play professionals. And that's the part that I don't know that you know, people that really follow closely enough really step back and analyze whether or not there is validation to what I'm reading right now, or do I just accepted blindly. That's my big concern with all of that. And then again, when in a situation like with Showhay, the reports go sideways wrong or or critical, like you talked about, just playing critical based on you know, your own personal opinion, your own personal perspective, which you have quite a podium for, whereas the player or the in this situation, he does not. And then and then how about he gets up and apologizes for taking so long? And I would I would bet that part of how that all came down motivated him to think that he had to apologize for him for in his mind and as his mind, doing the right thing. That's that's where all this stuff, to me gets skewed. And that's where I really encourage people to make up your own mind about what you see and what you read. We're all influenced, Listen, We're all influenced. So we always we all have a little bit of a play reist in our lives because we get. We learn in a sense and by other teachers, things that we have read, observations we make based on our own life experiences. I get that. But at the end of the day, please, I might encourage everybody. I encourage my players and I actually we're in the shirt today. No regurgitation. Tell me what you think, not what you've heard. And I think there's so many people that just have to be able to regrigitate what they've heard because they really don't know what they think.

I always love the way you put things in the right context, Joe.

I always love the way you put things in the right context, Joe.

False narratives.

False narratives.

I wanted to talk about one of Otani's former teammates now, Mike Trout, and we'll get back to Otani in a minute, but this also came up in the course of Otani's free agency since the season ended. Mike Trout being traded, completely false narrative has been out there, People ran with it.

I wanted to talk about one of Otani's former teammates now, Mike Trout, and we'll get back to Otani in a minute, but this also came up in the course of Otani's free agency since the season ended. Mike Trout being traded, completely false narrative has been out there, People ran with it.

People start making up fake trades.

People start making up fake trades.

Perry Mansian came out at the winter meetings and said, one hundred percent, Mike Trout's not being traded.

Perry Mansian came out at the winter meetings and said, one hundred percent, Mike Trout's not being traded.

You never was going to get traded, Joe. You told me.

You never was going to get traded, Joe. You told me.

Something about Mike where you you hit the nail completely on the head with Mike, and that is all he wants to do is please people, Please his family, please his employer, please his teammates.

Something about Mike where you you hit the nail completely on the head with Mike, and that is all he wants to do is please people, Please his family, please his employer, please his teammates.

That's Mike Trout.

That's Mike Trout.

The only way Mike Trout is going to be traded if he walked up to Artie Moraine and said get me out of here.

The only way Mike Trout is going to be traded if he walked up to Artie Moraine and said get me out of here.

There's no way Mike Trout's doing that.

There's no way Mike Trout's doing that.

This is a guy who sat in the draft room in Secaucus for I don't know how long, but it went through twenty one, twenty two teams, whatever it was.

This is a guy who sat in the draft room in Secaucus for I don't know how long, but it went through twenty one, twenty two teams, whatever it was.

Angels finally took him.

Angels finally took him.

He has never forgotten that the Angels have taken care of him with extensions twice, never allowing him to get the free agency, and Mike was happy each time the way he was treated. I you know, the idea of Mike Trout being traded, there's a complete fabrication, complete false narrative. People got a lot of miles out of it. But that's the way the world works now. And then the GM comes out and says the obvious one hundred percent not being traded. But I'll give you credit, Joe, because I think you nailed Mike and who he is so well, this kid from New Jersey who still hangs out with his high school buddies.

He has never forgotten that the Angels have taken care of him with extensions twice, never allowing him to get the free agency, and Mike was happy each time the way he was treated. I you know, the idea of Mike Trout being traded, there's a complete fabrication, complete false narrative. People got a lot of miles out of it. But that's the way the world works now. And then the GM comes out and says the obvious one hundred percent not being traded. But I'll give you credit, Joe, because I think you nailed Mike and who he is so well, this kid from New Jersey who still hangs out with his high school buddies.

I don't think Mike's going to change either.

I don't think Mike's going to change either.

Nothing wrong with that.

Nothing wrong with that.

I mean, I mean, when you say a statement like that, some people might think it's a negative. It's there's nothing negative about that. I'm from up the road. I have that those same kind of qualities about me, and I think any good human being pretty much has those qualities about them. And I think some of that bleeds to loyalty. We're pleasing, there's a trust component, and there's definitely a loyalty component to those that really are attempting to police somebody else. Of course, you you you don't like the criticism. Nobody likes criticism, so you can't even say that. But I think that when somebody describes somebody as being kind of like I describe my goal needing to.

I mean, I mean, when you say a statement like that, some people might think it's a negative. It's there's nothing negative about that. I'm from up the road. I have that those same kind of qualities about me, and I think any good human being pretty much has those qualities about them. And I think some of that bleeds to loyalty. We're pleasing, there's a trust component, and there's definitely a loyalty component to those that really are attempting to police somebody else. Of course, you you you don't like the criticism. Nobody likes criticism, so you can't even say that. But I think that when somebody describes somebody as being kind of like I describe my goal needing to.

Be like we all do. We all do.

Be like we all do. We all do.

But when you come from where he came from, small town, small town values, You were raised, you were raised by the entire community.

But when you come from where he came from, small town, small town values, You were raised, you were raised by the entire community.

There's I was.

There's I was.

I still if I look at my window right here, that's the golf course I used to play Michael jack one in the nineteen seventies, and all of his buddies and they had a great influence, sam Mee. You go up the hill todays in high school. I lived right across the street from that, and I used to just literally walk across the street to get to school in the morning, and all those teachers and coaches that were in there heading an influence saw me and if I run into them, there's still some around and they still do. Mister Mussolin the other night here at the Valley Country Club and then they needed a favor.

I still if I look at my window right here, that's the golf course I used to play Michael jack one in the nineteen seventies, and all of his buddies and they had a great influence, sam Mee. You go up the hill todays in high school. I lived right across the street from that, and I used to just literally walk across the street to get to school in the morning, and all those teachers and coaches that were in there heading an influence saw me and if I run into them, there's still some around and they still do. Mister Mussolin the other night here at the Valley Country Club and then they needed a favor.

He needed a favor with his son in Milwaukee.

He needed a favor with his son in Milwaukee.

What do you do? You drop everything and you pick up and you do that favor based on the people that you are tied to, and you're based on your history. And you could say it's because you want to be liked, and that's possibly true, and it's probably true, but there's a loyalty component that you'll do anything for these people, as you're talking about Michael. Michael will do anything for these people, whether it's the people back Noble. I think he's building his cool golf course down there, or like you're suggesting that Artie was so good to him. Uh, you asked me, I think before somebody did. Should Mike go walk into the office arties or Perry's and demand to trade.

What do you do? You drop everything and you pick up and you do that favor based on the people that you are tied to, and you're based on your history. And you could say it's because you want to be liked, and that's possibly true, and it's probably true, but there's a loyalty component that you'll do anything for these people, as you're talking about Michael. Michael will do anything for these people, whether it's the people back Noble. I think he's building his cool golf course down there, or like you're suggesting that Artie was so good to him. Uh, you asked me, I think before somebody did. Should Mike go walk into the office arties or Perry's and demand to trade.

He can't do that. You can't even he can't even imagine doing something like that. You don't do that.

He can't do that. You can't even he can't even imagine doing something like that. You don't do that.

You might walk you in and say, listen, what's going on here? You know, I really want to win. I want us to do better. What can I do to help? What is the what are the plans? And those kinds of things would be probably his tact, but not to demand. And again I'm speaking for myself, Mike, as a major league manager, my tact has been to try to participate, and it has been to participate. I'm going to give you my suggestion, and it's going to be straight up again. That's that's not being disagreeable. You just asked me a question. But at the end of the day, we all have to work off the same sheet of music and and that's what he wants to do, and I cannot agree with him more.

You might walk you in and say, listen, what's going on here? You know, I really want to win. I want us to do better. What can I do to help? What is the what are the plans? And those kinds of things would be probably his tact, but not to demand. And again I'm speaking for myself, Mike, as a major league manager, my tact has been to try to participate, and it has been to participate. I'm going to give you my suggestion, and it's going to be straight up again. That's that's not being disagreeable. You just asked me a question. But at the end of the day, we all have to work off the same sheet of music and and that's what he wants to do, and I cannot agree with him more.

No, you nailed it again.

No, you nailed it again.

Jo dead on with with Mike Trout and the Angels are trying.

Jo dead on with with Mike Trout and the Angels are trying.

I think they just really don't know how to win.

I think they just really don't know how to win.

I think they want to win, they don't know how the process has worked to make it happen.

I think they want to win, they don't know how the process has worked to make it happen.

We'll see if that changes.

We'll see if that changes.

We are going to get back to show Aotani after this break because we need to talk about what the future holds. Is he going to pitch again? Can he be an ace again? What about the Dodgers? Are they the team to beat major League Baseball? What about the Blue Jays who thought they had a really good chance at show Hey, we'll dive into what's next right after this.

We are going to get back to show Aotani after this break because we need to talk about what the future holds. Is he going to pitch again? Can he be an ace again? What about the Dodgers? Are they the team to beat major League Baseball? What about the Blue Jays who thought they had a really good chance at show Hey, we'll dive into what's next right after this.

Okay, Joe, I know the Dodgers aren't done. You know that as well. It's all about pitching at this point.

Okay, Joe, I know the Dodgers aren't done. You know that as well. It's all about pitching at this point.

And I was told that they're in on Yamamoto. They love Sasaki, Roki Sasaki. If he's posted, I almost think they'd rather have him than Yamamoto.

And I was told that they're in on Yamamoto. They love Sasaki, Roki Sasaki. If he's posted, I almost think they'd rather have him than Yamamoto.

Yamamoto.

Yamamoto.

The number is gonna probably get near three hundre million dollars or above, including a posting fee.

The number is gonna probably get near three hundre million dollars or above, including a posting fee.

They're also in on Josh Hater to be their closer. We'll see how that goes.

They're also in on Josh Hater to be their closer. We'll see how that goes.

They are not putting resources at this point into offense, and I looked at their outfield and thought, well, maybe they could use a right handed bat to really platoon with Jason Hayward and right field. Mookie Betts is going to play second base. They're cool with the Inventoria hitting they have. They have some good young right handed bats coming up. Andy Pajs probably the biggest name there. And we saw the way Josh Autman played center field and broke through as a rookie this year.

They are not putting resources at this point into offense, and I looked at their outfield and thought, well, maybe they could use a right handed bat to really platoon with Jason Hayward and right field. Mookie Betts is going to play second base. They're cool with the Inventoria hitting they have. They have some good young right handed bats coming up. Andy Pajs probably the biggest name there. And we saw the way Josh Autman played center field and broke through as a rookie this year.

Give credit for the Dodgers man.

Give credit for the Dodgers man.

That farm system just does not stop churning, and they're loaded with good young arms. So yeah, the Dodgers to me, once again, as they are every year team to beat in the NL West, do they win a world championship?

That farm system just does not stop churning, and they're loaded with good young arms. So yeah, the Dodgers to me, once again, as they are every year team to beat in the NL West, do they win a world championship?

I don't know who knows, Joe right, Yeah, I mean it's hard to do.

I don't know who knows, Joe right, Yeah, I mean it's hard to do.

But I think what we're looking at now is the game used to always be about the haves and the have nots. Right in terms of resources, we're looking at now at a new game that has three levels to it. You have the super teams, the super resources, the haves, and the have nots. I would put the Dodgers and the Mets in that category.

But I think what we're looking at now is the game used to always be about the haves and the have nots. Right in terms of resources, we're looking at now at a new game that has three levels to it. You have the super teams, the super resources, the haves, and the have nots. I would put the Dodgers and the Mets in that category.

Unto themselves.

Unto themselves.

With payrolls pushing three hundred plus million dollars, the Yankees could be there, and maybe when all is said and done this winter after getting once or they will, But the Red Sox are no longer in that category. Angel's not in that category Cubs not in that category.

With payrolls pushing three hundred plus million dollars, the Yankees could be there, and maybe when all is said and done this winter after getting once or they will, But the Red Sox are no longer in that category. Angel's not in that category Cubs not in that category.

The Dodgers have moved the bar higher.

The Dodgers have moved the bar higher.

Now.

Now.

Listen, they did this on purpose.

Listen, they did this on purpose.

They basically took the last fifteen months to create some payroll space for showey Otani and they wound up getting him.

They basically took the last fifteen months to create some payroll space for showey Otani and they wound up getting him.

Good for them.

Good for them.

It's a great plan and going forward, we'll see what happens. But yeah, I think this team is loaded offensively. How about Joe filling out a lineup bets O'tani, Freeman, Smith, Munsey.

It's a great plan and going forward, we'll see what happens. But yeah, I think this team is loaded offensively. How about Joe filling out a lineup bets O'tani, Freeman, Smith, Munsey.

On and on it goes. That's pretty darn good.

On and on it goes. That's pretty darn good.

And don't get me wrong, they're gonna get more pigeoning to add to the group of young pitchers they have coming.

And don't get me wrong, they're gonna get more pigeoning to add to the group of young pitchers they have coming.

Oh yeah, listen, I'm I'm thinking as a manager as you're talking all that, not as running one of those teams. But how do you play against them? That was my you know, because I back in the day with the Angel team with the Rays American League East coming up in two thousand and six, two thousand and seven, Hey, you guys need to get out of the AL East. There's no way the Rays could pete with the Yankees and the Red Sox at that particular Junctu, they're spending way too much money. You guys are spending forty million a year, they're spending two hundred million year, whatever it was at that particular time, And that's all I ever heard. And listen, I'm guilty in naive. I have a naivete about me sometimes. But I thought, why does money matter for Pusk Gonna play a better game tonight? That was my thought, and that was the thought I attempted to sell to the players at the organization at any time I was able to speak on TV or radio. So the group that's not the supergroups that you've described, because after all, the Diamondbacks were there this year, and you could say that the Rangers are really good, but they weren't there this year. I mean they were there this year also, So some teams can like slip through the cracks. And for me, if I'm running these other teams that have to compete against these super teams, man, it's it's so much about playing good baseball on a nightly basis. That's where I think it's really important to develop your own method, her own system of play.