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 episode of the Book of Joe Podcast with me, Tom Berducci and of course Joe Madden and Joe.

It's the latest episode of the Book of Joe Podcast with me, Tom Berducci and of course Joe Madden and Joe.

It's weird that here we.

It's weird that here we.

Are in late March and we're talking about free agents, but Blake Snell has finally signed. How about that, Blake Snell going to the Giants. Give me your first reaction when you heard about the news that Blake Snell is going to be a Giant.

Are in late March and we're talking about free agents, but Blake Snell has finally signed. How about that, Blake Snell going to the Giants. Give me your first reaction when you heard about the news that Blake Snell is going to be a Giant.

Good spot for him. I mean, if I'm a pitcher, I want to play there. I'm a free agent pitcher. If they like me enough and they want to pay me enough, I'd like to pitch there. I'd like to pitch in San Francisco. It's a rub a much better pictures park than a hitters park, obviously, So that made all the sense in the world to me. And like, even you know, defensively, they should be in a pretty good spot this year. Yeah, I like it. I think you know, we've talked about being a West Coast guy. The weather are you know, similar some ways to Seattle. I thought it made sense. So I think that you know, from the Giant perspective quietly having a good offseason. So I thought I thought it was a good sign for the Giants.

Good spot for him. I mean, if I'm a pitcher, I want to play there. I'm a free agent pitcher. If they like me enough and they want to pay me enough, I'd like to pitch there. I'd like to pitch in San Francisco. It's a rub a much better pictures park than a hitters park, obviously, So that made all the sense in the world to me. And like, even you know, defensively, they should be in a pretty good spot this year. Yeah, I like it. I think you know, we've talked about being a West Coast guy. The weather are you know, similar some ways to Seattle. I thought it made sense. So I think that you know, from the Giant perspective quietly having a good offseason. So I thought I thought it was a good sign for the Giants.

Yeah, you talked about the off season for the Giants. Wow, you know, think about this. They get Jorge Hilaire, Matt Chapman, and Blake Snell all on I think below market deals because they waited because markets just didn't develop for those guys. I'm really surprised by the way, Joe, that Blake Snell is signing a two year deal for sixty two million dollars. And by the way, he gets fifteen million dollars this year and as seventeen million dollars signing bonus in January of twenty twenty six, so they've actually reduced the present value of that contract. He can opt out after the first year if he comes back, it's for about thirty million. I mean, listen, clubs love to have these deals, Joe, of short term deals, especially for pitchers. And think about Blake Snell. This guy at thirty one in his platform season, heading into free agency, wins his second Cy Young Award, pitched great for the Padres, and this guy has to sign a reduced contract. I mean, he doesn't have enough value out there. I mean last year you had Carlos Rodin with the Yankees get six years and one hundred and sixty two million dollars. Blake Snell is much more durable and a better track record, a better pitcher than Carlos Rodin the market never developed for Blake Snell. I am shocked. The Giants got themselves a bargain. And now Blake Snell, if he pitches two years in San Francisco, you know next time he's a free agent. He's thirty three years old. And this was peak value Blake Snell, and he didn't get peak value on the market.

Yeah, you talked about the off season for the Giants. Wow, you know, think about this. They get Jorge Hilaire, Matt Chapman, and Blake Snell all on I think below market deals because they waited because markets just didn't develop for those guys. I'm really surprised by the way, Joe, that Blake Snell is signing a two year deal for sixty two million dollars. And by the way, he gets fifteen million dollars this year and as seventeen million dollars signing bonus in January of twenty twenty six, so they've actually reduced the present value of that contract. He can opt out after the first year if he comes back, it's for about thirty million. I mean, listen, clubs love to have these deals, Joe, of short term deals, especially for pitchers. And think about Blake Snell. This guy at thirty one in his platform season, heading into free agency, wins his second Cy Young Award, pitched great for the Padres, and this guy has to sign a reduced contract. I mean, he doesn't have enough value out there. I mean last year you had Carlos Rodin with the Yankees get six years and one hundred and sixty two million dollars. Blake Snell is much more durable and a better track record, a better pitcher than Carlos Rodin the market never developed for Blake Snell. I am shocked. The Giants got themselves a bargain. And now Blake Snell, if he pitches two years in San Francisco, you know next time he's a free agent. He's thirty three years old. And this was peak value Blake Snell, and he didn't get peak value on the market.

I get it.

I get it.

The market looked at him and said, this guy doesn't throw enough strikes. He's an outlier. Folks, he led the league in era and walks try to do that. That's hard to do, right, I think it happened once before in history. He erases his mistakes with a with breaking stuff that is out of this world. And Joe, I know, as you a manager, you're watching your guy throw BALI he put people on with walks. He's a different cat because you just punch out the next guy. He pitches around walks. I know you're not supposed to do that. But just look at his track record.

The market looked at him and said, this guy doesn't throw enough strikes. He's an outlier. Folks, he led the league in era and walks try to do that. That's hard to do, right, I think it happened once before in history. He erases his mistakes with a with breaking stuff that is out of this world. And Joe, I know, as you a manager, you're watching your guy throw BALI he put people on with walks. He's a different cat because you just punch out the next guy. He pitches around walks. I know you're not supposed to do that. But just look at his track record.

I lived with Maddie Moore, that's Matti Mo. Matty Mo was like that with the rays. Oppressively good stuff, great stuff, very difficult to hit. But he did walk a lot of folks. But it was walks and stricoss. There was no hits. People get on base. They had a really hard time squaring them up and driving runs in putting the ball out of the ballpark. It was very difficult against Maddy Moore. So there's a lot of similarities between these two guys as they pitch and their command or lack of it. And look what happened to Matty Mo. Matti Mo right now. Wow, he's totally turned this whole thing around. And I guess part of what I want to insinuate there is the fact that as Blake Snow gets older, you might see an uptick in command. Overall. I think that's all potentially part of the equation. But after having said all that, I do believe and I don't know Matt Blake Snell at all. I don't know him, but I do believe personality played into this somewhat. I think he scares people off somewhat, And I think Rodin's contract last year and how that worked out similarly, that kind of a personality, just not sure. It's not the kind of guy. I think that some groups wanted to bet all that money on. So there's a lot of underlying components of this. I think that nobody will ever admit to regarding why they did not want to sign him, or eventually why he did get signed, or how he got signed. But all these things, our factors are in play again these organizations. The way it works today, everybody's after the same guy, and then thus everybody's going to be not after the same guy. And I think there's a lot of that interaction going on that kind of kind of like scared teams off of him, just based on how he is, what he talks, how he speaks, how he I saw some of the videos of him working with kids, and I thought it was great. I mean, it looked like he was really into it. But again, I just don't know that everybody quite understands him. I think bow Mail does, and that's a good call for them. I think Bobby might be able to extract the most out of Snow going into the season and Furthermore, he's got to feel like he has something to prove. I mean, even though he's got a nice contract that's a lot of money, but it's it's not the rinks robbery that he wanted to eventually get. So there's a lot of chicken left on the bone for next year and years to come. So there's a lot of things working here, a lot of dynamics working here that I think only so much has talked about it, reported upon, But I think it's pretty complex.

I lived with Maddie Moore, that's Matti Mo. Matty Mo was like that with the rays. Oppressively good stuff, great stuff, very difficult to hit. But he did walk a lot of folks. But it was walks and stricoss. There was no hits. People get on base. They had a really hard time squaring them up and driving runs in putting the ball out of the ballpark. It was very difficult against Maddy Moore. So there's a lot of similarities between these two guys as they pitch and their command or lack of it. And look what happened to Matty Mo. Matti Mo right now. Wow, he's totally turned this whole thing around. And I guess part of what I want to insinuate there is the fact that as Blake Snow gets older, you might see an uptick in command. Overall. I think that's all potentially part of the equation. But after having said all that, I do believe and I don't know Matt Blake Snell at all. I don't know him, but I do believe personality played into this somewhat. I think he scares people off somewhat, And I think Rodin's contract last year and how that worked out similarly, that kind of a personality, just not sure. It's not the kind of guy. I think that some groups wanted to bet all that money on. So there's a lot of underlying components of this. I think that nobody will ever admit to regarding why they did not want to sign him, or eventually why he did get signed, or how he got signed. But all these things, our factors are in play again these organizations. The way it works today, everybody's after the same guy, and then thus everybody's going to be not after the same guy. And I think there's a lot of that interaction going on that kind of kind of like scared teams off of him, just based on how he is, what he talks, how he speaks, how he I saw some of the videos of him working with kids, and I thought it was great. I mean, it looked like he was really into it. But again, I just don't know that everybody quite understands him. I think bow Mail does, and that's a good call for them. I think Bobby might be able to extract the most out of Snow going into the season and Furthermore, he's got to feel like he has something to prove. I mean, even though he's got a nice contract that's a lot of money, but it's it's not the rinks robbery that he wanted to eventually get. So there's a lot of chicken left on the bone for next year and years to come. So there's a lot of things working here, a lot of dynamics working here that I think only so much has talked about it, reported upon, But I think it's pretty complex.

Yeah, listen, if personality, character, make up, whatever you want to call it as part of the equation, I think the industry is misreading this guy. He's got a stuff, There's no question about it. I talked about his breaking stuff. Overall, batter's hit ninety three against his breaking stuff. He gave up only twenty two hits all year on his slider and curveball with two strikes he throws his breaking ball, hitters hit sixty six. And how about a guy on second base, rounders in scoring position, and he's got two strikes on you, and he throws a breaking ball. The batting average against Blake Snell last year was oh, nineteen, that's not one ninety that's nineteen. This guy has been an ACE for a long time. I know people looked at his track record they think he's a five inning guy. Listen, he averaged more innings per start than Dylan Cees. Guess who was number one in average pitches per start in the major.

Yeah, listen, if personality, character, make up, whatever you want to call it as part of the equation, I think the industry is misreading this guy. He's got a stuff, There's no question about it. I talked about his breaking stuff. Overall, batter's hit ninety three against his breaking stuff. He gave up only twenty two hits all year on his slider and curveball with two strikes he throws his breaking ball, hitters hit sixty six. And how about a guy on second base, rounders in scoring position, and he's got two strikes on you, and he throws a breaking ball. The batting average against Blake Snell last year was oh, nineteen, that's not one ninety that's nineteen. This guy has been an ACE for a long time. I know people looked at his track record they think he's a five inning guy. Listen, he averaged more innings per start than Dylan Cees. Guess who was number one in average pitches per start in the major.

Leagues last year. Blake Snell.

Leagues last year. Blake Snell.

Guess who threw the most one hundred pitch games in major leagues last year?

Guess who threw the most one hundred pitch games in major leagues last year?

Blake Snell.

Blake Snell.

Guess who was fifth in quality starts last year. Blake Snell. He's not a five inning guy.

Guess who was fifth in quality starts last year. Blake Snell. He's not a five inning guy.

I get it.

I get it.

He's the industry has changed where guys aren't asked to pitch the seventh.

He's the industry has changed where guys aren't asked to pitch the seventh.

Day of the ninth innings. I get that.

Day of the ninth innings. I get that.

And he's because he's a strikeout guy. He's gonna run up pitch counts. But the fact is, and this is what a manager told me, Joe, when you're preparing to face Blake Snell, you know, as a manager, you're working your lineup a series or two in advance. You're trying to find out where you can give a guy a day off when you need to put your a team out there. Blake Snell, this manager told me, is a dude. You have to prepare for you really have to adjust your lineup knowing you're facing Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery who's still not signed. Not that kind of a guy. He's a Dwardo Rodriguez. He's a good pitcher. He's not a difference maker. He's not a swing and miss guy. One more thing on Blake Snell since twenty seventeen, basically his first full year.

And he's because he's a strikeout guy. He's gonna run up pitch counts. But the fact is, and this is what a manager told me, Joe, when you're preparing to face Blake Snell, you know, as a manager, you're working your lineup a series or two in advance. You're trying to find out where you can give a guy a day off when you need to put your a team out there. Blake Snell, this manager told me, is a dude. You have to prepare for you really have to adjust your lineup knowing you're facing Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery who's still not signed. Not that kind of a guy. He's a Dwardo Rodriguez. He's a good pitcher. He's not a difference maker. He's not a swing and miss guy. One more thing on Blake Snell since twenty seventeen, basically his first full year.

I'll look back at the lowest era.

I'll look back at the lowest era.

How many pitchers have started one hundred and fifty games, so you need to be durable, and the lowest era among that group, so seven seasons, here's what you have. Lowest era past seven years. Clayton Kursch, Justin Verlander, Max Schurzer, Garrett Cole, Blake Snell. That's elite. The Giants got themselves an elite starter on a two year deal. And please stop saying that he's a five inning guy. Puts one hundred and eighty innings last year.

How many pitchers have started one hundred and fifty games, so you need to be durable, and the lowest era among that group, so seven seasons, here's what you have. Lowest era past seven years. Clayton Kursch, Justin Verlander, Max Schurzer, Garrett Cole, Blake Snell. That's elite. The Giants got themselves an elite starter on a two year deal. And please stop saying that he's a five inning guy. Puts one hundred and eighty innings last year.

He's not.

He's not.

I listen, I've seen him from the dugout, the other dugout. It's really it's nasty. It's very good. Saw. I'm with the Rays down here. I think it was with the Cubbies yet and believe me, it's oppressive. It is. It is that good. And when you talk about that kind of break the ball again, I mean as a manager, somebody sitting in a dugout or even somebody sitting upstairs, the walks really drive you absolutely insane, put your defense to sleep. And then like you're talking about the the fact that he's not going to go more deeply into the games. Now, that's that has been part of his past from a distance a little bit too kind of like I mean, I've already talked about Maddie Moore, I could even say Scott Casmer. I mean, these are the kind of guys with the kind of stuff that that there are. They are going to walk sometimes, they are going to miss the zone. They're going to get like really way outside the zone sometimes, but people don't square them up. And I didn't realize to what level or extent his breaking ball was that elite. I mean, I've seen it. Like I said, it's it's ridiculous. It's it's that good. It is that good as fastball and his delivery. I think there's an uncomfortable component to hitting against him. All this stuff causes a hitter to want to get ready sooner, get it going sooner all this stuff which then plays into making the ball breaking ball even better than that. So he does, He's got a lot of great stuff. I'm just saying, I don't know. This is my opinion from a distance. I just think people I don't know if they were scared off by that, if they're just trying to, you know what Scottie Boris is, trying to teach them a lesson somewich is ridiculous. But there's there's some things underlying things going on there that nobody really wants to fess up to. That I think scared a lot of teams off, like the Yankees. I mean, I think roundn't I see there? Could they were? They were probably concerned about getting another one of those. I think that was part of the conversation. I would bet.

I listen, I've seen him from the dugout, the other dugout. It's really it's nasty. It's very good. Saw. I'm with the Rays down here. I think it was with the Cubbies yet and believe me, it's oppressive. It is. It is that good. And when you talk about that kind of break the ball again, I mean as a manager, somebody sitting in a dugout or even somebody sitting upstairs, the walks really drive you absolutely insane, put your defense to sleep. And then like you're talking about the the fact that he's not going to go more deeply into the games. Now, that's that has been part of his past from a distance a little bit too kind of like I mean, I've already talked about Maddie Moore, I could even say Scott Casmer. I mean, these are the kind of guys with the kind of stuff that that there are. They are going to walk sometimes, they are going to miss the zone. They're going to get like really way outside the zone sometimes, but people don't square them up. And I didn't realize to what level or extent his breaking ball was that elite. I mean, I've seen it. Like I said, it's it's ridiculous. It's it's that good. It is that good as fastball and his delivery. I think there's an uncomfortable component to hitting against him. All this stuff causes a hitter to want to get ready sooner, get it going sooner all this stuff which then plays into making the ball breaking ball even better than that. So he does, He's got a lot of great stuff. I'm just saying, I don't know. This is my opinion from a distance. I just think people I don't know if they were scared off by that, if they're just trying to, you know what Scottie Boris is, trying to teach them a lesson somewich is ridiculous. But there's there's some things underlying things going on there that nobody really wants to fess up to. That I think scared a lot of teams off, like the Yankees. I mean, I think roundn't I see there? Could they were? They were probably concerned about getting another one of those. I think that was part of the conversation. I would bet.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, the Yankees did make him supposedly an offer they did get in it. It was actually below Redon money, with probably in the twenty five to twenty seven million dollars a year range, and he was not going to take that. I mean, his market is above Carlos Redon. And I don't know if Blake Snell truly wanted New York anyway. I was told that he really wanted Seattle, that's where he's from. Seattle, like Texas, just has not had money to spend throughout this winter because a lot of uncertainty about their RSN situation. So Seattle was really never a player. He wound up on the West coast. Maybe that was a preference. But New York did kick the tires, did make something of an opening offer. It did not go anywhere, and that's when they pivoted to Marcus Stroman, and they were not getting back into the game at that point because after the Stroman signing and a couple other things the Yankees did, they're well over the last payroll threshold luxury tax threshold, so signing Blake Snell there'd be one hundred and ten percent tax levy. Blake Snell would have become a sixty million dollars a year pitcher for the Yankees. So that wasn't gonna happen at that point. But they did kick the tires. I don't think they felt maybe Blake Snell didn't feel it was a great fit. And again I think at that point in the winter early the contract offer wasn't what he was looking for. And again kudos to the San Francisco Giants. Because they hung in there. They got themselves a really good pitcher. And how about this now, Joe, If you're the Giants, You've got Logan Webb who finished second to Blake Snell in the Cy Young Race last year. Logan Webb, Blake Snell. You've got Alex Cobb coming back a lot earlier than people think, probably by May. You've got Kyle Howard Harrison, really good young left handed pitcher. I like this guy a lot. I think he's gonna have a breakout season. And you've got Robbie Ray coming back in the second half of the season. Remember they picked him up from Seattle. He's recovering from surgery. That is a dynamic rotation and the Giants got something going here. And if these guys, and I do think they'll get healthy at some point in the season. And having those reinforcement in the second half of the season, I think the Giants became a handful.

Well, the Yankees did make him supposedly an offer they did get in it. It was actually below Redon money, with probably in the twenty five to twenty seven million dollars a year range, and he was not going to take that. I mean, his market is above Carlos Redon. And I don't know if Blake Snell truly wanted New York anyway. I was told that he really wanted Seattle, that's where he's from. Seattle, like Texas, just has not had money to spend throughout this winter because a lot of uncertainty about their RSN situation. So Seattle was really never a player. He wound up on the West coast. Maybe that was a preference. But New York did kick the tires, did make something of an opening offer. It did not go anywhere, and that's when they pivoted to Marcus Stroman, and they were not getting back into the game at that point because after the Stroman signing and a couple other things the Yankees did, they're well over the last payroll threshold luxury tax threshold, so signing Blake Snell there'd be one hundred and ten percent tax levy. Blake Snell would have become a sixty million dollars a year pitcher for the Yankees. So that wasn't gonna happen at that point. But they did kick the tires. I don't think they felt maybe Blake Snell didn't feel it was a great fit. And again I think at that point in the winter early the contract offer wasn't what he was looking for. And again kudos to the San Francisco Giants. Because they hung in there. They got themselves a really good pitcher. And how about this now, Joe, If you're the Giants, You've got Logan Webb who finished second to Blake Snell in the Cy Young Race last year. Logan Webb, Blake Snell. You've got Alex Cobb coming back a lot earlier than people think, probably by May. You've got Kyle Howard Harrison, really good young left handed pitcher. I like this guy a lot. I think he's gonna have a breakout season. And you've got Robbie Ray coming back in the second half of the season. Remember they picked him up from Seattle. He's recovering from surgery. That is a dynamic rotation and the Giants got something going here. And if these guys, and I do think they'll get healthy at some point in the season. And having those reinforcement in the second half of the season, I think the Giants became a handful.

I think they're a contender now for a playoff spot.

I think they're a contender now for a playoff spot.

So they definitely have weapons on the mound to mitigate possibly the Dodgers too. And that was a big that's a big part of their potential success this year. No question. So when they line up, you go into town and that's their starting three or four. This is our starting three or four. They got to feel decent about that, and that's really what you need to be able to do to beat that group down south there. So that's that box has been checked. And I'll say this, I do believe everything here and everything we're talking about right and everything I've read, I'm curious. I think still has a chance to have a tremendous season based just on motivation. Motivation for how this all came down this year. I'm just thinking, person, I definitely would have a chip on my shoulder about this. Go about it in a way that your focus has got to be extraordinary. It's there's a lot of good stuff. And again I Bob Melvin being there with him, having had that familiarity from last year. I think it's gonna matter. I think all that matters, and in pitching in that ballpark.

So they definitely have weapons on the mound to mitigate possibly the Dodgers too. And that was a big that's a big part of their potential success this year. No question. So when they line up, you go into town and that's their starting three or four. This is our starting three or four. They got to feel decent about that, and that's really what you need to be able to do to beat that group down south there. So that's that box has been checked. And I'll say this, I do believe everything here and everything we're talking about right and everything I've read, I'm curious. I think still has a chance to have a tremendous season based just on motivation. Motivation for how this all came down this year. I'm just thinking, person, I definitely would have a chip on my shoulder about this. Go about it in a way that your focus has got to be extraordinary. It's there's a lot of good stuff. And again I Bob Melvin being there with him, having had that familiarity from last year. I think it's gonna matter. I think all that matters, and in pitching in that ballpark.

Yeah, all good points. I'm with you.

Yeah, all good points. I'm with you.

I think Blake's got to be disappointed because, like I said, he wins the cy Young in his platform season, it just doesn't have a market develop And I do think he turned a corner last year. It was around May last year with San Diego, when he stopped worrying about the walks. You know, people have tried to turn Blake Snell into a strike thrower. He's just not that kind of a pitcher, comes right over the top, you know. He just guys don't swing in his breaking stuff and they do chase it with two strikes. I'll give him that, but he's going to always have high pitch counts because hitters can't be aggressive. He's not sentering the ball up in the middle of his own he's not attacking with and that breaking ball is tough.

I think Blake's got to be disappointed because, like I said, he wins the cy Young in his platform season, it just doesn't have a market develop And I do think he turned a corner last year. It was around May last year with San Diego, when he stopped worrying about the walks. You know, people have tried to turn Blake Snell into a strike thrower. He's just not that kind of a pitcher, comes right over the top, you know. He just guys don't swing in his breaking stuff and they do chase it with two strikes. I'll give him that, but he's going to always have high pitch counts because hitters can't be aggressive. He's not sentering the ball up in the middle of his own he's not attacking with and that breaking ball is tough.

To get called a strike as well.

To get called a strike as well.

So I think he reached a point where he said, you know what, walks, I'm not going to stress about them.

So I think he reached a point where he said, you know what, walks, I'm not going to stress about them.

What I'm going to do is get the next guy out.

What I'm going to do is get the next guy out.

And I think that that's when he went off and for San Diego had an incredible run. And I think if your giants, Joe, I think you look at that, you say that's who he is.

And I think that that's when he went off and for San Diego had an incredible run. And I think if your giants, Joe, I think you look at that, you say that's who he is.

Now.

Now.

You know, he reached a point where he's accepted the walks. You still don't love him, you're not trying to walk people, but they don't rattle him, they don't bother him, and I think the Giants, and you've made a good point about Bob Melbourn. I don't think they're going to change this guy or try to change this guy and try to turn him into a strike thrower. Just let him be and make sure that you know he's got the confidence to get that next guy out after the walks.

You know, he reached a point where he's accepted the walks. You still don't love him, you're not trying to walk people, but they don't rattle him, they don't bother him, and I think the Giants, and you've made a good point about Bob Melbourn. I don't think they're going to change this guy or try to change this guy and try to turn him into a strike thrower. Just let him be and make sure that you know he's got the confidence to get that next guy out after the walks.

A little bit more, one more comp here when you're talking about that, because I do believe in that stuff, the fact that by saying, you know, listen, go ahead, a paradoxical intent good and walk as many people as you want to. Go ahead, go ahead and walk folks. And I think because of that concept alone, he's going to walk less. I did that with Scottie Casimier years ago, and gosh, I'm just drawing all these comparisons, but yeah, I guys like that. When you tell him not too or try not to whatever, it can turn into exactly the opposite. And John Lester, you made me think about this with the stolen bases. I remember finally taking him out in the backfield there at Sloan was me, him, Anthony Rizzo and Contreras and the pitching coach, and I said, okay, you know, regarding this throwing over the first spase done, we don't need to do that. Let's just forget about that completely. Let's do what you can do well, and which would be And I said, quite simply, you could hold the ball, you can step off, you can quick step, or you could pitch out. Those are your options. Throwing the first base is no longer an option to consideration. So if we just focus on those things and understand with Wilson beyond the plate backpicking at first base, with Anthony doing is we had Anthony do the maddingly thing, get off the bag, come back, et cetera. And when you do that, when you're able to do that with John and John could put all. My point was to get your focus to home plate only, period. That's it. Don't you do. Not worry about throwing the first base. That's our concern. And I really think that helped clear them up a little bit at the end and gave it some kind of definition we all want. We all have like these difficult moments in our life most of the time, we just need some definition to be able to move forward. And so I think there's some parallels there.

A little bit more, one more comp here when you're talking about that, because I do believe in that stuff, the fact that by saying, you know, listen, go ahead, a paradoxical intent good and walk as many people as you want to. Go ahead, go ahead and walk folks. And I think because of that concept alone, he's going to walk less. I did that with Scottie Casimier years ago, and gosh, I'm just drawing all these comparisons, but yeah, I guys like that. When you tell him not too or try not to whatever, it can turn into exactly the opposite. And John Lester, you made me think about this with the stolen bases. I remember finally taking him out in the backfield there at Sloan was me, him, Anthony Rizzo and Contreras and the pitching coach, and I said, okay, you know, regarding this throwing over the first spase done, we don't need to do that. Let's just forget about that completely. Let's do what you can do well, and which would be And I said, quite simply, you could hold the ball, you can step off, you can quick step, or you could pitch out. Those are your options. Throwing the first base is no longer an option to consideration. So if we just focus on those things and understand with Wilson beyond the plate backpicking at first base, with Anthony doing is we had Anthony do the maddingly thing, get off the bag, come back, et cetera. And when you do that, when you're able to do that with John and John could put all. My point was to get your focus to home plate only, period. That's it. Don't you do. Not worry about throwing the first base. That's our concern. And I really think that helped clear them up a little bit at the end and gave it some kind of definition we all want. We all have like these difficult moments in our life most of the time, we just need some definition to be able to move forward. And so I think there's some parallels there.

Oh, I love that concept.

Oh, I love that concept.

Joe just kind of reducing the mental strain and let a guy be an athlete and allowing that freedom to let athleticism take over certainly worked out for John Lester. He actually he actually was tougher to run on than most pitchers. He's better than average at holding runners. It's counterintuitive, but I think the system you came up with helped him get to that point.

Joe just kind of reducing the mental strain and let a guy be an athlete and allowing that freedom to let athleticism take over certainly worked out for John Lester. He actually he actually was tougher to run on than most pitchers. He's better than average at holding runners. It's counterintuitive, but I think the system you came up with helped him get to that point.

Well, is David Ross and Wilson. I mean, you have to really you have to have like for that to work for me. Johnny, first of all, is a great athlete. Johnny Lester is a tremendous athlete, so he knows what he's doing out there. But you have to have catchers that are not afraid to throw. And the backpick had to be huge, because if a runner was caught in between whether to go or not, got out in no man's land, the ball's coming down in first space. And even to the point, like I said, the pitchot or even in elevated away fastball that we could work with as a catcher and throw the ball where you want to. So all those that little nuance, all of that played into that one day he did pick off Tommy Fann God to place with nuts. He just invobbed on over there and family was in no man's land. But when she became convicted in the plan and knew exactly what he wanted to do, which I it sounds to me like Snell is. At that point you become more successful.

Well, is David Ross and Wilson. I mean, you have to really you have to have like for that to work for me. Johnny, first of all, is a great athlete. Johnny Lester is a tremendous athlete, so he knows what he's doing out there. But you have to have catchers that are not afraid to throw. And the backpick had to be huge, because if a runner was caught in between whether to go or not, got out in no man's land, the ball's coming down in first space. And even to the point, like I said, the pitchot or even in elevated away fastball that we could work with as a catcher and throw the ball where you want to. So all those that little nuance, all of that played into that one day he did pick off Tommy Fann God to place with nuts. He just invobbed on over there and family was in no man's land. But when she became convicted in the plan and knew exactly what he wanted to do, which I it sounds to me like Snell is. At that point you become more successful.

We're going to take a quick break, Joe, and we come back.

We're going to take a quick break, Joe, and we come back.

I want to talk about another major signing this week, and it's especially important to me.

I want to talk about another major signing this week, and it's especially important to me.

We'll talk about that next cool well, Joe.

We'll talk about that next cool well, Joe.

I don't know if you saw in the news, but now there is a new operator of Sports Illustrated.

I don't know if you saw in the news, but now there is a new operator of Sports Illustrated.

That will continue to publish the magazine.

That will continue to publish the magazine.

After lots of rumors and angst over the last few months about whether SI would even exist, Minute Media now has the licensing rights to publish the magazine, which is obviously great news for anybody in the business, anybody who's been a fan of SI, which this year is is hitting the seventieth anniversary, and it's my thirty first year with Sports Illustrated. There's not too many still around when I started the magazine, but it's great news.

After lots of rumors and angst over the last few months about whether SI would even exist, Minute Media now has the licensing rights to publish the magazine, which is obviously great news for anybody in the business, anybody who's been a fan of SI, which this year is is hitting the seventieth anniversary, and it's my thirty first year with Sports Illustrated. There's not too many still around when I started the magazine, but it's great news.

And it's time for our.

And it's time for our.

Baseball Preview issue, which is out this week and has none other than Shohei Otani on the cover. Of course, right I was able to sit down and do the exclusive interview with shoey Otani And this is what SI does and what's done for years, is it's going to give you the stories you.

Baseball Preview issue, which is out this week and has none other than Shohei Otani on the cover. Of course, right I was able to sit down and do the exclusive interview with shoey Otani And this is what SI does and what's done for years, is it's going to give you the stories you.

Can't find anywhere else.

Can't find anywhere else.

And that cover of SI is still one of the most coveted pieces of real estate in the sports industry. I can tell you I was on the cover once, the only writer featured on the cover of the magazine. It's when I spent spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays and wrote about my experience playing and to this day, and that was gosh. That was back in two thousand and five. I think people send me covers to sign. It's just amazing that there's this culture out there that honors the tradition and what the cover means to the magazine. So such a cool thing to know that the magazine and of course the website, but especially the print magazine will continue. Joe, You've got to have some SI in your background growing up as a kid.

And that cover of SI is still one of the most coveted pieces of real estate in the sports industry. I can tell you I was on the cover once, the only writer featured on the cover of the magazine. It's when I spent spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays and wrote about my experience playing and to this day, and that was gosh. That was back in two thousand and five. I think people send me covers to sign. It's just amazing that there's this culture out there that honors the tradition and what the cover means to the magazine. So such a cool thing to know that the magazine and of course the website, but especially the print magazine will continue. Joe, You've got to have some SI in your background growing up as a kid.

A Joe Namath cover.

A Joe Namath cover.

I don't know what it might be, but everybody has sort of favorites that stand out.

I don't know what it might be, but everybody has sort of favorites that stand out.

Brother, I got it every week, you know, and my high school baseball coach used to always talk about, now it's time for baseball to come back to the front of the sporting news. When it got to the spring, you know, specifically, was it was Richie Allen on the cut. That was Sports Illustrated magazine. When he's there flipping the juggling the baseball, smoking a cigarette walking into dugout in Chicago, right, that was Dick Allen doing. That was in that Sports Illustrated. Yeah, I mean that's when I was such a big Dick Allen fan. My god, I I thought he was the best, one of the best hitters I've ever witnessed. And I got to meet him personally one time and had a great conversation with him. So all of that, Yes, the thing I used to love again, And of course this is dating myself and people might, you know, whatever, But I love the idea that the information wasn't as ubiquitous as it is now. I had to like work to go get that Sports Illustrated or have it sent to me in the mail and had to wait on it or the magazine itself when that would come out. And there's there's little like the kids, the people in the back and the last page or something, those that the up and comers always wanted to read. Who those people were? Everything about Sports Illustrated was magical, it really was, And so the cover would be Dick Allen for me. Also the Dope Book. You remember, I used to like put together these books of stats and information. I think it was called the Dope Book, if I'm not mistaken, regarding baseball stats on an annual basis. And I also would get the NBA Guide from them, and I would look through all the different arenas, how much did its seat, where was it located? I still we'll have to make a visit to the cal Palace, just because that's where the word used to play back in the day with Nate Thurmot and Jeff Maullin and Rick Berry, etc. All this stuff. Yeah, like you're talking about it, and I'm just like getting infiltrated with all these different worm fuzzies. I had about that magazine in the newspaper spectacular man. And again, I know you're never going back, and I know the speed of information is what it is, but there was something cool about having to wait several days to get the next copy and then sitting down and absolutely devouring it.

Brother, I got it every week, you know, and my high school baseball coach used to always talk about, now it's time for baseball to come back to the front of the sporting news. When it got to the spring, you know, specifically, was it was Richie Allen on the cut. That was Sports Illustrated magazine. When he's there flipping the juggling the baseball, smoking a cigarette walking into dugout in Chicago, right, that was Dick Allen doing. That was in that Sports Illustrated. Yeah, I mean that's when I was such a big Dick Allen fan. My god, I I thought he was the best, one of the best hitters I've ever witnessed. And I got to meet him personally one time and had a great conversation with him. So all of that, Yes, the thing I used to love again, And of course this is dating myself and people might, you know, whatever, But I love the idea that the information wasn't as ubiquitous as it is now. I had to like work to go get that Sports Illustrated or have it sent to me in the mail and had to wait on it or the magazine itself when that would come out. And there's there's little like the kids, the people in the back and the last page or something, those that the up and comers always wanted to read. Who those people were? Everything about Sports Illustrated was magical, it really was, And so the cover would be Dick Allen for me. Also the Dope Book. You remember, I used to like put together these books of stats and information. I think it was called the Dope Book, if I'm not mistaken, regarding baseball stats on an annual basis. And I also would get the NBA Guide from them, and I would look through all the different arenas, how much did its seat, where was it located? I still we'll have to make a visit to the cal Palace, just because that's where the word used to play back in the day with Nate Thurmot and Jeff Maullin and Rick Berry, etc. All this stuff. Yeah, like you're talking about it, and I'm just like getting infiltrated with all these different worm fuzzies. I had about that magazine in the newspaper spectacular man. And again, I know you're never going back, and I know the speed of information is what it is, but there was something cool about having to wait several days to get the next copy and then sitting down and absolutely devouring it.

Yeah, listen, I get the whole speed of information right. Everybody wants it now, if not sooner, and they want it quickly.

Yeah, listen, I get the whole speed of information right. Everybody wants it now, if not sooner, and they want it quickly.

I get it.

I get it.

I mean, I always say, the worst acronym that's been invented in a world of acronyms is tld R too long didn't read. People just don't have the diligence, the discipline, if you will, or even the curiosity to sit down with something that would take even five or ten minutes to read.

I mean, I always say, the worst acronym that's been invented in a world of acronyms is tld R too long didn't read. People just don't have the diligence, the discipline, if you will, or even the curiosity to sit down with something that would take even five or ten minutes to read.

Not talking about Moby Dick, I mean.

Not talking about Moby Dick, I mean.

We're talking about people just sitting down and actually enjoying something and losing themselves in a story. In the craft of writing, I still think that happens. I acknowledge it doesn't happen nearly as much as it did, but there's still a place for that. And that's what I love about Sports Illustrated. I'm telling you, you can read a story that was in Sports Illustrated ten, fifteen, thirty, seventy years ago, and you know what, it still resonates. It's like classical music. Did people stop listening to Mozart or Vivaldi? No, hundreds of a year later they still are. But are people going to be reading tweets? Ten years from now, ten seconds from now. No, we live in an entirely disposable society, and there still has to be a place for things that last, that have some resonance to them and not just of the moment. And I get it. That's what's driving our culture. There's nothing wrong with it. But there still has to be a place for reflection and sitting down with something that actually has some substance to it. It's nourishment, it's mental nourishment. Do you want potato chips and soda every day? No, Sometimes you need your vegetables and your fruit as well.

We're talking about people just sitting down and actually enjoying something and losing themselves in a story. In the craft of writing, I still think that happens. I acknowledge it doesn't happen nearly as much as it did, but there's still a place for that. And that's what I love about Sports Illustrated. I'm telling you, you can read a story that was in Sports Illustrated ten, fifteen, thirty, seventy years ago, and you know what, it still resonates. It's like classical music. Did people stop listening to Mozart or Vivaldi? No, hundreds of a year later they still are. But are people going to be reading tweets? Ten years from now, ten seconds from now. No, we live in an entirely disposable society, and there still has to be a place for things that last, that have some resonance to them and not just of the moment. And I get it. That's what's driving our culture. There's nothing wrong with it. But there still has to be a place for reflection and sitting down with something that actually has some substance to it. It's nourishment, it's mental nourishment. Do you want potato chips and soda every day? No, Sometimes you need your vegetables and your fruit as well.

On the money, I mean, Scotti, Harrison. I had that same conversation in the manager's office. I don't know if it was in Cincinnati, whatever, Almost exactly what you just talked about, and the subject matter was me because I was so disappointed. I'm so disappointed in myself in the mid seventies, when I'm in the minor leagues riding buses in quad cities or from quad cities to wherever that's Stavenport, Iowa, or Salinas, or even as a manager in Midland, Texas or Ido Falls whatever. Long bus rides, man, I mean long time on the bus, I would devour books. I probably read a book, a novel, one at least one every two weeks at the most. At the most, every night they come back from a game. I'd lie in bed and I read myself to sleep every night. Bus trips, every trip with like this horrible lighting. Probably why my eyes aren't that good anymore. But I did that all the time, and I could not wait to get back at night to read. I don't do that anymore. I've tried. I've tried, and just being honest, I've tried to do that for everything you're talking about. The speed. Didn't want to take the time to read that. I just I speed read everything. I jumped from sentence to sentence per paragraph. I don't just sit there and devour. Once in a while and something really captures my interest, that will slow it down and suck it all up. And I'm good at that. But brother, I would pick a book every week or two weeks and kill it. From Mitchner to Conroy h to Richard north Patterson to Greg Isles to Leon Juris, I would devour these people. And I'm grateful at least I had that moment, because I do believe I know it's probably made me somewhat more interesting, but it definitely has somehow cause my mind to grow and permits me to look at things, analyze them differently, or just a wider scope of understanding, because I definitely believe I've been able to study both sides of situations. So if I had one wish, just one for me, it'd be that I would become the voracious reader that I once had been, and I was able to slow things down. That would be my wish.

On the money, I mean, Scotti, Harrison. I had that same conversation in the manager's office. I don't know if it was in Cincinnati, whatever, Almost exactly what you just talked about, and the subject matter was me because I was so disappointed. I'm so disappointed in myself in the mid seventies, when I'm in the minor leagues riding buses in quad cities or from quad cities to wherever that's Stavenport, Iowa, or Salinas, or even as a manager in Midland, Texas or Ido Falls whatever. Long bus rides, man, I mean long time on the bus, I would devour books. I probably read a book, a novel, one at least one every two weeks at the most. At the most, every night they come back from a game. I'd lie in bed and I read myself to sleep every night. Bus trips, every trip with like this horrible lighting. Probably why my eyes aren't that good anymore. But I did that all the time, and I could not wait to get back at night to read. I don't do that anymore. I've tried. I've tried, and just being honest, I've tried to do that for everything you're talking about. The speed. Didn't want to take the time to read that. I just I speed read everything. I jumped from sentence to sentence per paragraph. I don't just sit there and devour. Once in a while and something really captures my interest, that will slow it down and suck it all up. And I'm good at that. But brother, I would pick a book every week or two weeks and kill it. From Mitchner to Conroy h to Richard north Patterson to Greg Isles to Leon Juris, I would devour these people. And I'm grateful at least I had that moment, because I do believe I know it's probably made me somewhat more interesting, but it definitely has somehow cause my mind to grow and permits me to look at things, analyze them differently, or just a wider scope of understanding, because I definitely believe I've been able to study both sides of situations. So if I had one wish, just one for me, it'd be that I would become the voracious reader that I once had been, and I was able to slow things down. That would be my wish.

Well, you're not alone, Joe, I mean, listen to the studies have shown that our brains literally are being rewired to work more quickly and to devour information quickly. It's been retrained by the constant attention to screens and the constant you know, flipping over and just skimming things, as you mentioned. So it does take discipline, and it's sort of like you know, you know, whether it's your nutrition or your fitness or something, it's something you have to pay attention to because if you leave yourself to your own devices, with your brain getting rewired, you're not going to have that time to elasticity. The plasticity of your brain and thoughts and ideas and become, you know, basically a person who can think clearer and wider, so without getting too far down the rabbit hole. As I started this, Yeah, I want to bring it back to show Hey Otani because everything comes back to him, right, Joe, He's now beginning when he comes back from Soul Korea, we'll begin a throwing program.

Well, you're not alone, Joe, I mean, listen to the studies have shown that our brains literally are being rewired to work more quickly and to devour information quickly. It's been retrained by the constant attention to screens and the constant you know, flipping over and just skimming things, as you mentioned. So it does take discipline, and it's sort of like you know, you know, whether it's your nutrition or your fitness or something, it's something you have to pay attention to because if you leave yourself to your own devices, with your brain getting rewired, you're not going to have that time to elasticity. The plasticity of your brain and thoughts and ideas and become, you know, basically a person who can think clearer and wider, so without getting too far down the rabbit hole. As I started this, Yeah, I want to bring it back to show Hey Otani because everything comes back to him, right, Joe, He's now beginning when he comes back from Soul Korea, we'll begin a throwing program.

He's going to be in the Dodger rotation next year. You know what the arm is like? Who knows.

He's going to be in the Dodger rotation next year. You know what the arm is like? Who knows.

We'll wait and see. But for this year, he's a dh Only we're talking about a guy who last year won the home run title essentially without playing the last month of the season. I think show has become a much better hitter, a much more dangerous hitter. He's covered up some holes he had on the fastball up and in. Joe, would not surprise me if show Hey hits close to, if not more than, sixty home runs this year. I know that's a huge number, and you know, I hate putting a huge numbers on people, but I've learned with show Hey, you don't put a ceiling on.

We'll wait and see. But for this year, he's a dh Only we're talking about a guy who last year won the home run title essentially without playing the last month of the season. I think show has become a much better hitter, a much more dangerous hitter. He's covered up some holes he had on the fastball up and in. Joe, would not surprise me if show Hey hits close to, if not more than, sixty home runs this year. I know that's a huge number, and you know, I hate putting a huge numbers on people, but I've learned with show Hey, you don't put a ceiling on.

What he can do.

What he can do.

And I think in that lineup, not having to pitch that every fifth or sixth day, going out there in the strain and just the even the mental prep taking that out of the equation, just go hit each night as a DH man, I think he's going to have an enormous season for the Dodgers, And yeah, probably I think he's going to hit a career high, probably at least fifty home runs.

And I think in that lineup, not having to pitch that every fifth or sixth day, going out there in the strain and just the even the mental prep taking that out of the equation, just go hit each night as a DH man, I think he's going to have an enormous season for the Dodgers, And yeah, probably I think he's going to hit a career high, probably at least fifty home runs.

No, I can't argue that we talked about this one other time, and I think that I had mentioned the fact that he's not pitching and just focusing on one thing. It sounds simply like it's going to be better. But the distraction of having to pitch also work in his favor. I don't know if it had. He will make the adjustment. Eventually, he will make the adjustment. The thing you're talking about for me that I've noticed he is so willing now to go to the opposite field with two strikes and he'll take that little blooper to left to get there to drive in the run. I'm seeing that right now. Just really just a bright, bright major league baseball player. And the big thing for me is protection in the batting God. He's not going to be able to circumvent that do all that unless they do not permit the other team's circument, the lineup in him and picture of those that they want, so they seem like they have a the depth necessary. I'm just curious where they start him in the lineup. I think they're talking three right now. I don't know if that's right or not. I'd have to look at that more closely, because that's not for me. I would not necessarily do that just looking at it from a distance. Having Freeman behind him I think would be optimal. But we'll see again. I haven't studied them enough, but I just know that whoever's sitting behind him has to be formidable enough to make sure that they do go after him. And I know, you know, analytically a lot of people don't believe in that stuff, but I'm telling you, man in the other dugout.

No, I can't argue that we talked about this one other time, and I think that I had mentioned the fact that he's not pitching and just focusing on one thing. It sounds simply like it's going to be better. But the distraction of having to pitch also work in his favor. I don't know if it had. He will make the adjustment. Eventually, he will make the adjustment. The thing you're talking about for me that I've noticed he is so willing now to go to the opposite field with two strikes and he'll take that little blooper to left to get there to drive in the run. I'm seeing that right now. Just really just a bright, bright major league baseball player. And the big thing for me is protection in the batting God. He's not going to be able to circumvent that do all that unless they do not permit the other team's circument, the lineup in him and picture of those that they want, so they seem like they have a the depth necessary. I'm just curious where they start him in the lineup. I think they're talking three right now. I don't know if that's right or not. I'd have to look at that more closely, because that's not for me. I would not necessarily do that just looking at it from a distance. Having Freeman behind him I think would be optimal. But we'll see again. I haven't studied them enough, but I just know that whoever's sitting behind him has to be formidable enough to make sure that they do go after him. And I know, you know, analytically a lot of people don't believe in that stuff, but I'm telling you, man in the other dugout.

It's huge.

It's huge.

And if you want to do the give him the Bryce Harper treatment in a really big series, it's possible, just depending on how toasty he actually is. But I think his propensity now or his ability you're willing to go to the opposite field when it's necessary, is huge. He hits the high fastball, but you like you talked about the elevated in fastball, but the protection I'm just curious about that. I got to watch that.

And if you want to do the give him the Bryce Harper treatment in a really big series, it's possible, just depending on how toasty he actually is. But I think his propensity now or his ability you're willing to go to the opposite field when it's necessary, is huge. He hits the high fastball, but you like you talked about the elevated in fastball, but the protection I'm just curious about that. I got to watch that.

Well.

Well.

Dave Roberts is thinking like you, because he's going to go mookie starting out in the one hole Show Hey at two, Freddie Freeman at three, and Will Smith at four.

Dave Roberts is thinking like you, because he's going to go mookie starting out in the one hole Show Hey at two, Freddie Freeman at three, and Will Smith at four.

I love that as well.

I love that as well.

You need protection for Show Hey, and Freddie Freeman is such a good hitter with a great hitter with runners on base. You know, let the traffic build for Freddie Freeman. And actually Will Smith is an unbelievable good hitter with runners in scoring position, much better with brothers in scoring position than overall.

You need protection for Show Hey, and Freddie Freeman is such a good hitter with a great hitter with runners on base. You know, let the traffic build for Freddie Freeman. And actually Will Smith is an unbelievable good hitter with runners in scoring position, much better with brothers in scoring position than overall.

I love him, so.

I love him, so.

I love the setup of the lineup. Show Hey will take his walks.

I love the setup of the lineup. Show Hey will take his walks.

And if you're thinking because of the three batter rule, you're making it easy for a lefty to come in and face Show Hey and Freddie back to back.

And if you're thinking because of the three batter rule, you're making it easy for a lefty to come in and face Show Hey and Freddie back to back.

Forget it. I mean Freddie hits lefties.

Forget it. I mean Freddie hits lefties.

He almost He's told me the past he loves when they bring in lefties to face him because if Horse is sitting to keep his front side in longer, he actually becomes a better hitter against lefties. So you're not really playing into the hands of the other manager by having those two lefties back to back.

He almost He's told me the past he loves when they bring in lefties to face him because if Horse is sitting to keep his front side in longer, he actually becomes a better hitter against lefties. So you're not really playing into the hands of the other manager by having those two lefties back to back.

And I do agree. I'm with you, Joe.

And I do agree. I'm with you, Joe.

I like the idea of Freddy behind show Hey as protection and he's going to hit with a ton of guys on base.

I like the idea of Freddy behind show Hey as protection and he's going to hit with a ton of guys on base.

One other thought I had had I didn't know a couple of years ago is problematic. Mooki was having trouble with lefties a couple of years ago. That was a big deal when they were uh. I think it was the twenty twenty World Series right when you know the lefty and Snell and all that other good stuff. So I don't know where he's at with that right now. See if he went and left right left, it was like even show Mooki and Freeman, then you're then you're feeding Mooki possibly, And I don't know if that's important or not. That's that's my point. I'm not around them enough to know that. So if there's like a lefty that or lefties out of a bullpen that at Betts Kills, it might be wise to set up a show in the first because you don't care. He's gonna He's gonna be the same dude regardless of where you put him. So that would be the only thing that would be left for me to really study whether or not to put bets in the two hole. And furthermore, I mean, was he gonna get more fastballs with show he going to do on the basis just all it provides presents a lot of opportunities for movement. And I don't even know how willing or wanting they're going to be in that position also to want to do those kind of things, But that'd be the only thing left for me. Do you like Mooki in the second to feed him if he's actually really getting on lefties today these days?

One other thought I had had I didn't know a couple of years ago is problematic. Mooki was having trouble with lefties a couple of years ago. That was a big deal when they were uh. I think it was the twenty twenty World Series right when you know the lefty and Snell and all that other good stuff. So I don't know where he's at with that right now. See if he went and left right left, it was like even show Mooki and Freeman, then you're then you're feeding Mooki possibly, And I don't know if that's important or not. That's that's my point. I'm not around them enough to know that. So if there's like a lefty that or lefties out of a bullpen that at Betts Kills, it might be wise to set up a show in the first because you don't care. He's gonna He's gonna be the same dude regardless of where you put him. So that would be the only thing that would be left for me to really study whether or not to put bets in the two hole. And furthermore, I mean, was he gonna get more fastballs with show he going to do on the basis just all it provides presents a lot of opportunities for movement. And I don't even know how willing or wanting they're going to be in that position also to want to do those kind of things, But that'd be the only thing left for me. Do you like Mooki in the second to feed him if he's actually really getting on lefties today these days?

Well, I know you had some injuries when you were with the Angels, but when you had Trout and shoe Hey, what was the thinking there right there?

Well, I know you had some injuries when you were with the Angels, but when you had Trout and shoe Hey, what was the thinking there right there?

I really wanted Mikey to protect show Hey as opposed to the other way around. I didn't think that anybody else could. And my whole thing too with hitting show Hey leadoff when I was there, was that I wanted the whole lineup to protect him. It depends on how deep you are by putting show You number one. I really thought he had an entire lineup protecting him, which was necessary there. Mikey and know needs to stay well and he was hurt a lot during that time. Too, but if Trotty stays well, I wanted him to protect show. And furthermore, when Mike wasn't available, I wanted the whole lineup to protect him. And that's why I liked the number one. I don't know how much of an de turn it actually was, but that was part of my thought process.

I really wanted Mikey to protect show Hey as opposed to the other way around. I didn't think that anybody else could. And my whole thing too with hitting show Hey leadoff when I was there, was that I wanted the whole lineup to protect him. It depends on how deep you are by putting show You number one. I really thought he had an entire lineup protecting him, which was necessary there. Mikey and know needs to stay well and he was hurt a lot during that time. Too, but if Trotty stays well, I wanted him to protect show. And furthermore, when Mike wasn't available, I wanted the whole lineup to protect him. And that's why I liked the number one. I don't know how much of an de turn it actually was, but that was part of my thought process.

The Dodgers, Joe, they're just as you mentioned, They're deep. Just behind you Will Smith, You've got Max Muncie and Josh Autman. I mean, the list goes on and on. I do have to ask you, though, about Mooky Betts and the commitment the Dodgers have made to him as their shortstop. Yeah, listen, Gavin Lux must have been that bad at shortstop for the Dodgers to make this move. I have a ton of respect for Moky. I love the fact that he wants to do this. He's a great athlete who loves a challenge in his heart. He's always been a shortstop position he had growing up. But I thought it was interesting that Miguel Rojas had an interesting observation about learning to play shortstop. He said, it really is a position that requires a lot of communication, a lot of thinking pre pitch to be in the right spot. So give me your thoughts on making this switch halfway through spring training and having Mooky play shortstop and Gavin Lux going over to second base.

The Dodgers, Joe, they're just as you mentioned, They're deep. Just behind you Will Smith, You've got Max Muncie and Josh Autman. I mean, the list goes on and on. I do have to ask you, though, about Mooky Betts and the commitment the Dodgers have made to him as their shortstop. Yeah, listen, Gavin Lux must have been that bad at shortstop for the Dodgers to make this move. I have a ton of respect for Moky. I love the fact that he wants to do this. He's a great athlete who loves a challenge in his heart. He's always been a shortstop position he had growing up. But I thought it was interesting that Miguel Rojas had an interesting observation about learning to play shortstop. He said, it really is a position that requires a lot of communication, a lot of thinking pre pitch to be in the right spot. So give me your thoughts on making this switch halfway through spring training and having Mooky play shortstop and Gavin Lux going over to second base.

I was, I mean, I've never seen him do it. I've been you know, I thought about it. I would have to see him actually come after a ground ball and see what it looks like. I'd have to watch his feet and how he threw the ball the first base, just from a mechanical perspective. But yeah, Rojas is right with it comes to the communicative component of this, just holding runners, being in the right spot on cutoffs and relays which he's played second base, He'll be fine with all of that. But I'm just curious. It's it's not easy. Billy Russell, Mickey Stanley right did it for the Tigers in the World Series in sixty seven. Russell was a big part of that. I think both of them came in from center field to do that, to be their shortstops, different different ere I get that. I don't remember specifically. I know Russell played there for a while. Stanley, I don't know how often he did play. But so there's been based on need and is it. I've seen Lux I'll say this, I lux, to me was a kind of an inconsistent on the dirt for me fielding a ground at ball and then throwing it too. I think there's a lot of stuff there to be worked on, and so from that perspective, I get it. So it almost sounds like they like the bat set up of all this. They probably they know that mookis going to make some mistakes, I would imagine, but that they can cover. But it's a hard place to make mistakes man, that position right there, anything up the middle catcher through short second in center field. I've always wanted something stirring there because it is a difference maker. So yeah, I'm curious to see what it looks like. I would love to be on the field with them, watching them take ground balls off of fungo to be able to make up my mind. I remember when Gene Mak wanted to put them on white there and I'm hitting him fungos and I'm watching this, going Gene to myself because I would never say it out loud, this ain't gonna work. So they know what they're doing out there, But I'm just curious. I need to see it in order to really draw a conclusion.

I was, I mean, I've never seen him do it. I've been you know, I thought about it. I would have to see him actually come after a ground ball and see what it looks like. I'd have to watch his feet and how he threw the ball the first base, just from a mechanical perspective. But yeah, Rojas is right with it comes to the communicative component of this, just holding runners, being in the right spot on cutoffs and relays which he's played second base, He'll be fine with all of that. But I'm just curious. It's it's not easy. Billy Russell, Mickey Stanley right did it for the Tigers in the World Series in sixty seven. Russell was a big part of that. I think both of them came in from center field to do that, to be their shortstops, different different ere I get that. I don't remember specifically. I know Russell played there for a while. Stanley, I don't know how often he did play. But so there's been based on need and is it. I've seen Lux I'll say this, I lux, to me was a kind of an inconsistent on the dirt for me fielding a ground at ball and then throwing it too. I think there's a lot of stuff there to be worked on, and so from that perspective, I get it. So it almost sounds like they like the bat set up of all this. They probably they know that mookis going to make some mistakes, I would imagine, but that they can cover. But it's a hard place to make mistakes man, that position right there, anything up the middle catcher through short second in center field. I've always wanted something stirring there because it is a difference maker. So yeah, I'm curious to see what it looks like. I would love to be on the field with them, watching them take ground balls off of fungo to be able to make up my mind. I remember when Gene Mak wanted to put them on white there and I'm hitting him fungos and I'm watching this, going Gene to myself because I would never say it out loud, this ain't gonna work. So they know what they're doing out there, But I'm just curious. I need to see it in order to really draw a conclusion.

Yeah, I'd also be a little bit concerned about the wear and tear on Mookie bits asking him to play shortstop every day. Again, great athlete, but Joe, you know it's it's there's a lot you ask out of a shortstop in the course of a six month season, a lot different than playing the outfield.

Yeah, I'd also be a little bit concerned about the wear and tear on Mookie bits asking him to play shortstop every day. Again, great athlete, but Joe, you know it's it's there's a lot you ask out of a shortstop in the course of a six month season, a lot different than playing the outfield.

They probably look at even like Traig Turner. I mean, these great athletes. These are great athletes. And no doubt that if he to me, if Bets is capable, Mookie is capable of mechanically fielding a ground ball well, can play through it, moves his feet well, accurately throws the ball, There's no doubt in my mind he will figure out the rest of this stuff, all the communicative stuff, all of that I believe will be rather easy compared to this other part of it. I do. The guy's just a high level athlete. He does everything to the to the f degree well. So if in fact, physically he could handle presenting his hands at fielding a groundball, stepping properly, and throwing the ball accurately, chest tied at the first baseman often or almost one hundred percent of the time, he'll do it. He'll I mean he'll play the position.

They probably look at even like Traig Turner. I mean, these great athletes. These are great athletes. And no doubt that if he to me, if Bets is capable, Mookie is capable of mechanically fielding a ground ball well, can play through it, moves his feet well, accurately throws the ball, There's no doubt in my mind he will figure out the rest of this stuff, all the communicative stuff, all of that I believe will be rather easy compared to this other part of it. I do. The guy's just a high level athlete. He does everything to the to the f degree well. So if in fact, physically he could handle presenting his hands at fielding a groundball, stepping properly, and throwing the ball accurately, chest tied at the first baseman often or almost one hundred percent of the time, he'll do it. He'll I mean he'll play the position.

Well, yeah, I'm agree with you, Joe, and I've seen him and he's for years he's taking ground balls at shortstop. Like I said, it's it's one of those positions like point garden basketball quarterback in football. Once you start out at that position, it's always in your heart. And he always thought of himself as a shortstop taking ground balls. You see the footwork, the throwing ability, it's all there. But I do think he's going to need time to know, you know, where to be relays, just as some of the just the normal kind of things you take for granted playing shortstop in the big leagues. As the game speeds up at that level, he'll get there, There's no question about it. It'll be some growing pains early on, but I think physically I'm not too worried about him. If I'm the Dodgers, I don't think it's a big concern. They will figure it out. He will figure it out.