Ep. 29: Kevin Kernan — Baseball Works: The Yankees, October & the Lost Art of Winning

Dean Balsamini (00:13)
Welcome back to the Deep Threads Podcast. I'm your recovering journalist host, Dean Balsamini. Our returning guest is a man who spent over 45 years covering the sports world, including 23 years as a columnist for the New York Post before his current gig at ballnine.com. Read it. He's an author of seven books, a member of the New York Baseball Hall of Fame, and honestly, just one of the absolute favorite people to talk baseball with. Welcome back to the pod, Kevin Kernan, aka
AMBS, America's most beloved sports writer. And before we get started, I'd like to note that we're coming to you from the cozy confines of Cedar Beans Coffee Joint in the great state of New Jersey. Please make sure to hit subscribe to support the show and help us reach new audiences. And of course, consider giving us a five-star review. And after now, let's get at it. So, Kev, your thoughts on the first 24 hours of the playoffs and specifically the Yankees, most notably the
Yankees.
Kevin Kernan (01:10)
Well first off, I gotta mention Cedar Beans. I'm I'm a coffee guy, so when I when I get it back to Jersey, we'll do the show from there. Yeah.
Dean Balsamini (01:18)
Yes, I will personally escort you there's for some great coffee.
Kevin Kernan (01:21)
Yeah, nothing better than great coffee. I even I get mine on through the mail now 'cause it's it's really good. But so you need coffee when you're watching wall to wall baseball, you know. And that that's where I'm at. it's hard to watch these games sometimes, but it's also thrilling. Like it's like
you know, you mentioned forty-five years. I was actually recalculating it's forty-nine years now.
Dean Balsamini (01:45)
my god.
Kevin Kernan (01:45)
Yeah, I added another four because next next year will be my fiftieth. And
Dean Balsamini (01:50)
Sorry to make you younger.
Kevin Kernan (01:51)
yeah, you are. And you know, the bull nine thing is great. it allows me to get my voice out there. I'm also working on something it we it may come through. It's it's a major newspaper type deal. If it comes through, that would be nice 'cause I'll
Dean Balsamini (02:08)
Nice.
Kevin Kernan (02:08)
I'll reach more people.
And they need a voice like mine because I don't gaslight, I don't I don't make things up, I tell the truth, I don't care who it is, I'm friends with everybody. If you don't like me, you don't like me. You know, and and you would
Dean Balsamini (02:22)
Well the other thing is
you don't have to trade access for truth, or and criticism.
Kevin Kernan (02:27)
No, when I didn't Dean, I never
did that even when I was a daily guy. That's why I would run
Dean Balsamini (02:31)
No, I get it. And I
think most of the guys are like that. I'm just saying it's a lot
Kevin Kernan (02:34)
No,
there I I wanna I'm push back there a little bit. I think it's changed dramatically. And that's why I like to go on your show, because you're s you you you're a reporter, you know, and I'm a reporter. We got too many guys now in the business who are looking to kiss somebody's butt so they get information. It's always been there. Don't get me wrong. It's always been there. I've had great relationships, but I also had some nasty relationships and I did what I did to survive.
But it now I've never seen it more where guys just they they don't they they they they essentially lie for people. And I'm
Dean Balsamini (03:09)
Hmm.
Kevin Kernan (03:10)
not I'm not lying for anybody. you know things we talk about with the Yankees, we see what's wrong. They've made some adjustments and I I'm telling you right now, a hundred and seventeen pitches, it's about time. It's about time. I was on
Dean Balsamini (03:23)
Mm, may
Kevin Kernan (03:24)
Rob Dibble's show earlier today up up in Connecticut and I was asked about what what what what you know
What with what Sch Schlitler is is like, his season is like, 'cause I've been around a long time seen a of seasons. I said, Well, if it always goes to the playoffs, but if he continues to dominate and they do well, we're looking at a Ron Gidry like season. So that that's that's that that's that's great news.
Dean Balsamini (03:47)
He's got a little bit of Jacob de Gram in him too. I mean it Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (03:51)
More of a killer than Jake. Jake
Jake's father told me once, you know, the biggest thing I said, what'd you teach Jake? And he's and I thought it was great. He said, Leave no doubt. Three words, leave no doubt. That's and that's that's a great point you make about Slitler. He's got a little bit of that, but he goes for the win. The Jake's problem was he got some bad luck or he just couldn't finish it off or whatever. And I always felt Jake was great, phenomenal, but never reached his where he could be.
Slitler's got a little bit of what I call New England or Northeast a-hole in you know, which is good. Yeah.
Dean Balsamini (04:27)
Yes, yes, the mast holes as they say.
Kevin Kernan (04:30)
You know, and and I I I wanna not to get sidetracked, but I did do a little homework and I want to point this out. Slittler, twenty two, you know, he he two hundred and twentieth pick in the twenty twenty two draft. Rice, you know, twelfth round.
Yeah, Lombardi, Lomb George Lombard Jr. First round. I I don't know if I told you on the last show, but I talked to Yan Yankee people and they were petrified that the the Padres would pick right ahead of them. They went for
Dean Balsamini (05:01)
Wow.
Kevin Kernan (05:01)
an outfielder, that's why they got Lombard. Thank you know, and we're already seeing what he can do. Wells, he went back to doing what we talked about last time. He's trying to pull everything. You know, no, hit the ball off fields, you know. Take your catching mindset into the batter's box. He's done that.
Even Volpe, since he went down to the minors, he's he yeah,
Dean Balsamini (05:20)
Yes, they readjusted his swing.
Kevin Kernan (05:22)
well, he it's him. It's his mental. He's readjusted. And Jones, I told you how much I love Jones way back when. I know guys that coached him in in in you know in high school in Carl back in Carlsburg, California. and again, another draft pick, not in the same draft as Slitler, actually, 2022, first rounder. So we got homegrown, and I talked to Damon Oppenheimer about this, Yankee Director of Scouting.
actually I was texting with him today. He said, you know, it's it's not the core for it, but this is a nice core to build off of. And and and one other point I I I gotta mention and and again, this is the way my my mind works. It's funny how things connect in in different sports seasons. And here we have Cam Slitler doing great things for the Yankees, and we got Cam Scatabo. And I never heard
of the first name Cam basically until until this year. So it's funny how it happens.
Dean Balsamini (06:16)
What I was gonna say is so entering I thought this year was kind of a slog. I was kind of bored with the season, to be honest with you, and sometimes a lot of times I felt the
Kevin Kernan (06:26)
Absolutely.
Dean Balsamini (06:26)
Yankees were even bored with it. if you go into the Pythagorean theorems and all that, they were supposed to win 95 games. I think they did a nice job considering Judge was hurt, so I'm not going to go crazy on that, but
Tampa was supposed to win 90, they won 98. And and and with fewer resources and less resources. But you get into the the what makes you mad crazy is you get into the playoffs, and I'm seeing a sack successful sacrifice bunt, taking pitches, working pitches, your ace pitching 117 pitches, and the guys on TV kept throwing stats and my god, let the game breathe.
Kevin Kernan (07:09)
slow
it down. Yeah.
Dean Balsamini (07:10)
Baseball
was not a game meant about time. And and and you know, it was nice to see whether it whether it was Boone's idea or no way. You know it's a it's consensus, but it was nice to see the Yankees play the game like that. And what also made me laugh was the structure of the playoff roster. Wow, seven bench players. They were kind of making fun of it last night. That's the way I think it should be. It gives you
Some flexibility and you're leaning on your go to players, I think.
Kevin Kernan (07:42)
And with their situation, we know Stanton is only a one-shot deal. You know, he's gonna come in pitch hit somewhere. You know, so Right, you gotta pinch Ron. So he's not even
Dean Balsamini (07:48)
Yeah, and then you gotta pinch run and then you gotta g like you gotta move you know.
Kevin Kernan (07:51)
a player. It's good that they're thinking that way. And and again, I can't emphasize this enough. Having Cam Slitler as your number one allows you to do all this because
Dean Balsamini (08:01)
Don't believe
for a second they ever thought of not pitching him first. That was just to blow smoke to make maybe Cole and everybody else feel good, but.
Kevin Kernan (08:09)
Yeah,
it's trying to make Cole feel good. But that's the other thing, and and I'm glad you brought this up. I think for the first time in a long time, you know, I always call Boone K Kumbayai Boone because he's always gotta, you know, be friends with everybody. I think for the first time that I can remember in a long time, maybe since two thousand nine with Gerardy, the Yankees are putting feelings in the back. We don't care about your feelings. The let's go w the the the only feeling we care about is work winning for the team.
Dean Balsamini (08:38)
I think even Boon I think
Kevin Kernan (08:38)
And you saw that with Judge?
Dean Balsamini (08:40)
even Boone's tired of of the, you know, like look what
Kevin Kernan (08:43)
Yeah.
Dean Balsamini (08:43)
j like J Jazz being a pro and I'm being sarcastic. After the game he's turning his back because he didn't play. He knows he's gone after this year. Now he's he's in the
Kevin Kernan (08:49)
Well, I s I think I said on
the last show, get rid of jazz as soon as possible. And Yeah, I saw the
Dean Balsamini (08:55)
He's in the lineup tonight. Did you look at the lineup? What's your thoughts?
Kevin Kernan (08:58)
lineup and I think you gotta I I understand why they got him in the lineup, just so he doesn't go total renegade on them. But at the same time he better get something done tonight. And and there's nothing
Dean Balsamini (09:08)
For for the
Kevin Kernan (09:09)
wrong, there's nothing wrong, Dean, with pissing off a player, you know. And maybe he'll play
Dean Balsamini (09:12)
No, I I I agree with you. And just for the audience listening, because we're
Kevin Kernan (09:15)
harder. Go ahead.
Dean Balsamini (09:16)
this is being recorded about two hours before the start of game two. But the lineup is Rice, Bellinger, Luis Garcia, Spencer Jones, Lombard, Jazz, Grisham, Wells, McMahon. I'm fine with that because he can make moves, he's got the flexibility. But what I wanted to ask you, going back to the all your years covering and especially the Yankee dynasty,
Does the crowd get into the head of Sonny Gray tonight or is he past all that?
Kevin Kernan (09:44)
No, Sonny Gray's never passed that. I spent too many days in front of Sonny Gray in his locker after a bad start at Yankee Stadium. Sonny Gray's gotta come out and get through the first inning. so I think you're gonna see it early. I think that I think the Red Sox could collapse. The only thing is they're so bad now, with Anthony being out. what the Red Sox should do to try to make this competitive, and I'm looking at their lineup.
They should have went they should have went with Rafaela back to leadoff. And he should bunt first first at bat. They need to get back to being the Red Sox that they were when they were winning. you know, they had that r they were playing for each other, hitting
Dean Balsamini (10:27)
Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (10:28)
the ball. All the stuff you talk about. Baseball. Baseball works. And and and Yeah, exactly.
Dean Balsamini (10:33)
You go thirty two and five the way they did in
Kevin Kernan (10:36)
And and now you get story back.
So that changes a little bit of the emotion. You got Anthony back. So so they lost their they lost their kind of mental edge. And that's why the Yankees we're gonna see the this is a key game for the Yankees. Don't even fool around with a game three. You gotta win tonight. Gotta come out and and and crush you gotta crush them early. Gotta crush early.
Dean Balsamini (10:53)
I I agree the pressure's entire the the pressure's
entirely on the Yankees if you go to a game three. I I have mixed feelings about Cole. I like him. I like that he's thoughtful. I like that he cares so much and everything. But I sometimes think he overthinks things and then you he might give up back to back home runs and now you're in a hole.
Kevin Kernan (11:16)
And don't forget the Yankees w with drafting Cole way back and you know, things like that happening. I've always had the conversation especially when we went to Houston. I went down and talked to him a bunch of times. I always felt he was too much of a thinker, not enough of a doer. And 'cause he has the talent. But again, I think him being around Slitler is gonna help him be a little bit more cold, so to speak, a little more hard edge. And and and I think it'll be good for him. And he's also
He's getting older, so let's go. This is this is this is who you are now. You gotta accept this. And and I'd much rather see Cole start a a new series, obviously, than do game three. I'm with you on that. But I I felt all along and I told everybody ahead of the series, I don't bet, but I should bet. you know, I said the the Red Sox can't hit. They hit like two ten in September. This team can't hit. The Red Sox can't hit. There's no way that the Yankees should lose to this team.
I I still think the Yankees are the best team in the American League. We'll see what happens with the Rays, 'cause the way they play, if they put the pressure on the Yankees could be different. But to me, the Red Sox, it's it's kind of a phantom team. I mean, Breslau and how about taking talk about decisions. Taking out Tolle, Peyton Tole after eighty three pitches.
Dean Balsamini (12:34)
I totally agree with you.
Kevin Kernan (12:36)
my god, that that you could see the d and and again, hi I I I hate to be so critical, but that's who I am sometimes.
I'm watching the NBC game. And again, I think I told you in the past when I covered the games, I would always sit in a different spot. Was not always had to be the post seat or the San Diego Union Tribune seat. I would always position myself where I could see into the dugout of the team I was covering. Because so much stuff happens. So NBC last night, they had the camera on Toldy after he comes out. he he's laughing it up a little bit, being himself talking to another guy in a and then then the home runners given up.
They flashed the camera to him real quick and he's given one of those, I'm pissed off, why did he take me out looks and they took the camera off him. So that's what's happening behind scenes. Even the Red Sox question that move. The Red Sox can't help themselves being a nerd franchise 'cause of a Breslau. And and that was that's
Dean Balsamini (13:26)
Well I'll tell you it's easy.
Kevin Kernan (13:28)
what happened there and it helped the Yankees tremendously.
Dean Balsamini (13:30)
to
to give the to give the Yankees their props and 'cause they did win the game. We you know, I think they could have lost momentum if they pulled Cam after like eighty, ninety pitches
the way they've done before, because
Kevin Kernan (13:41)
Absolutely.
Dean Balsamini (13:44)
they knew that it w the it the lead wasn't big enough and the Yankees are all or nothing most of the time. But and then you see that that swagger that Cam had, I think, uplifted them too and that brought the crowd into the game and and
The Red Sox can't hit high velocity upstairs.
Kevin Kernan (14:02)
No, they c j it's much like the Phillies. That's the Phillies situation too. High velocity good good scout and I put this out on on X today or last night maybe. Good scouting friend of mine has said for years the lost pitch in baseball is the twelve to six curveball. That's what we need for h pitchers to succeed. And that's what that's what that that's what Cam was doing last night.
You know, Mark Del Piano, one of the Yankees scouts, he came from he was he was actually the scouting director of Miami when they drafted Michael King. He was sent out to draft to scout the scout the Red Sox and kudos for him, because the Yankees still do a good job sending up multiple scouts out. He's on his way to LA now. So the Yankees went into this with a good game plan. Getting back to your original point, circling back, I think because they brought some good scouts in, I'm sure they got Sabian involved.
They had some baseball people in their meeting and their baseball people said, No, this is how we have to do it. And I'm sure once Boone hears that, he's on board with that too. Cause deep down, he's a third generation baseball guy. I knew his grandfather in San Diego. So so the Yankees went back to their baseball roots. They used the curveball, great pitch. Then he adjusted to that. And I think you'll see the same kind of stuff being because it's no slam dunk with Freed the in the postseason too. His
Dean Balsamini (15:21)
Right.
Kevin Kernan (15:22)
numbers are atrocious.
Dean Balsamini (15:23)
He used his his curve 27% of the time last night. what I loved was the way he set up hitters and he changed the eye level. He wasn't just throwing it straight. I got so tired of hearing how what he was hit what all the pitchers were hitting on the gun.
You know, you put Maddox in there, it doesn't matter, you don't need the gun. You know he's gonna pitch a great game.
Kevin Kernan (15:43)
Well, you set me up again perfectly because I was talking to somebody today about that and and I I I I have the notes, but I remember verbatim. These new pitching coaches do not teach command, he said. this is a ba longtime baseball man pitcher, former pitching coach, they teach they teach sequencing, they teach spacing, like the spacing the way the pitchers g shaping. I'm sorry, they teach shaping, they don't teach command.
That's why you saw so many hits, all the big hits yesterday, and even today with the Phillies and stuff, balls right down the middle pretty much. These
Dean Balsamini (16:20)
Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (16:20)
pitchers don't have command. So if you have command, and I think that's the key for Freed tonight, he's got to have his command. A lot of spin with the Red Sox, a lot of spin. And and that's how you beat these teams. So again, it's another lost art. And I think the Yankees are getting back today. Also, an encouraging word I heard.
Yankees, according to minor league scouts I talked to, have been pushing their minor league pitchers beyond the limits of what other teams are doing now. That's a good sign for the future too. So
Dean Balsamini (16:49)
I
like the idea that Boone has more options offensively just for his platoon type players. And he's gonna you're gonna be leaning. I know this is a short series, but even going forward, you lean on your go-to guys. Just because some guy stitched together a great year who's a journeyman, you can't give him the ball in a big spot in on on the big stage. There's
Kevin Kernan (17:12)
No,
and I don't think they will and and and just what you said, that's what they did yesterday. They leaned on their big guys. I was stunned personally, the one thing that stunned me yesterday's game, what the Red So why why the hell were the Red Sox not pitching around Ben Rice? I mean, he
Dean Balsamini (17:26)
Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (17:26)
he's an animal. He's an animal. I love the guy. You know, he's
Dean Balsamini (17:29)
And he
and and both those guys are fearless. They're not afraid to fail, which is great.
Kevin Kernan (17:33)
No, they again it gets back to my my earlier thoughts about the Northeast. Getting players out of the Northeast are just mentally tougher if they have the talent. And the Yank and the player development people have brought along. They haven't screwed up, I will say this. They haven't s I think they screwed up Volpe a little bit. We can go all the way back to I was Waldo Cabrera and things, they screwed some guys up. But I think the Yankees, when it comes to Slitland and stuff, they developed them nicely.
Dean Balsamini (17:58)
What what I what made me laugh a little bit, I think it was Jason Bennetti, the play by play guy, who said this. The Yankees were not gonna pull Wells for a pinch hitter. He's pitching Cam
Kevin Kernan (18:08)
Yeah.
Dean Balsamini (18:09)
Schlittler and he also ha does have a good eye for the the you know, with the challenges and everything. He
Kevin Kernan (18:14)
He's a good
ABS guy. Absolutely. And well, we're hearing some things today and yesterday from the play by play guys. And I know the local play by play guys take a lot of abuse, but they're way better than you know. I I listen to Benetti a lot over in Detroit. And he does a nice job with the Detroit crowd. And he's got Andy Dirks with him, you know, and he and Andy's got a good sense of humor. So Benetti is very good. He he's setting him up with lines. The problem you had yesterday.
Some of the statements like you just mentioned, ludicrous. Ain't gonna happen. Come on. You're better than that, Bernetti. And second of all, why are you bringing four people into the conversation every play? Why are we predicting every freaking pitch, every every pitch? And why don't we let the game speak for itself? You have one of the all time great games from you know, from rice. Let that speak for itself. How about taking a breath here and there? You know, I mean on a podcast we're supposed to talk.
All right, but the game is not a podcast. Let's make
Dean Balsamini (19:15)
Right.
Kevin Kernan (19:15)
the game let's let's cover the game they forget about covering the game and
Dean Balsamini (19:20)
Well it's bombarding
it's bombarding your senses. I really I looked it up for giggles. It said that when the when the Red Sox had two outs in the nineteen eighty six World Series in game six in the tenth air inning, they had a ninety nine percent chance to win. Thank you. Thank you.
Kevin Kernan (19:36)
Yeah, there's
a lot of things that are I know they're trying to get the people who aren't fans, but at the same time you c you can't you can't crap on the fans who are fans. And
Dean Balsamini (19:46)
But I
I I wish but my thing is why don't the Yankees play like that with j even forget that they won last night. I mean the style they played, I can watch them win or lose. I can't watch that in the like h your good friend Harvey Ericton said, it's become a game of specialists. It's tough to watch during the regular season when you're plugging in guys and this guy's pitching the, you know, seventh, this guy's pitch
Kevin Kernan (20:09)
Well, I think the answer
to that is simple. During the season, the analytic guys, the nerds, have more control of the day-to-day operations. When we get to push push comes to shove in the playoffs, it's like the baseball guys speak up a little more and say, No, we're doing it this way. Like like they're always they're like actuaries, you know, they're always worried about the future, what's gonna happen here and there. No, win this game, whatever it takes. And also the great thing Boom did yesterday, the other thing I want to put
praise him for. He made a statement by letting Cam slip stay in for a hundred seventy. That
Dean Balsamini (20:43)
Absol absolutely.
Kevin Kernan (20:45)
wasn't about game one. That's about the whole series. We have an ace. We're ri we're riding this ace. You guys better be prepared for this guy, 'cause he's coming after you.
Dean Balsamini (20:51)
Give you I'll give you another
I'll give you another thing that I hope, and I've I've first said this, I'm not guessing because I don't know what they're gonna do. Comes down to game three. I'm telling Cam Schlitter, you might be in there for an inning if we need you. Yeah, you you
Kevin Kernan (21:04)
Yam Yamamoto, Yamamoto. Yep.
Dean Balsamini (21:07)
can't, you can't Roberts Roberts found religion in in those last two games because he knew he had nothing to lose, and then he managed with his gut. And
Kevin Kernan (21:17)
Well, think
that's another thing the Yankees when you ask that good question about the the adjustments they've made, they're learning from the Dodgers too. They're learning that you don't necessarily have to have your pitchers all year long, just get ready for the playoffs. They're learning that you need that key play at the end, you need baseball, whatever it takes. And the Dodgers have done that, and now the Yankees are doing that. And that's the way you win in this pocuse here's the thing, the postseason is so long, you know, it it's gonna wear you down at some point.
So if you can shorten the postseason, and by shortening the postseason I mean winning in two games instead of going
Dean Balsamini (21:50)
Right.
Kevin Kernan (21:50)
to three and then, you know, letting fate take over. That's how you win. So I I expect them to keep up this baseball thing. and also I I'll look every time I look at this lineup, you look at the look at these players. you know, Sogard, Story hasn't been hitting. Contreras is he swings at anything.
Rushman stuff, Jones, the Yankees you so if you just look matchups, the Yankees win in the old matchups we did, you know, Yankees win basically every matchup in this series.
Dean Balsamini (22:25)
So what's
so what's your say having said that, so what's your prediction? Obviously the Yankees won last night, 9-0. What's your I'm I'm gonna say because it's gonna appear tomorrow. So that was Tuesday night. We're Wednesday now recording this. What's your prediction for tonight's game and and what's your prediction if they lose tonight's game?
Kevin Kernan (22:44)
Well, I think they'll take care of business tonight. if they don't, anything can happen in in a third game. Anything can happen. it depends how much the Red Sox learn too. Have the Red Sox learned to pitch around rice, throw the fastballs up out of the zone, make them chase a little bit. Have they learned that? the Red Sox, the Yankees need but that's why I think the Yankees will just go for the juggler tonight. Don't even fool around. And Sonny Gray
We've know, he's spinning it very well. So you gotta be ready for spin tonight. The Yankee fan this is where the Yankee fans come in handy here. They will they will you can get into Gray's head very simply 'cause
Dean Balsamini (23:24)
They should ride him from Jump Street.
Kevin Kernan (23:26)
Well, yeah, and I'm sure there'll be you know, I used to always sometimes Dean, I used to walk out to the to the to the bull pens to watch guys warm up before a game and and the Yankees would always station Eddie, their big security guard, and I'd talk to Eddie and the other security guys.
You know, what's the worst thing and where where's the worst place? And they would give you a different stadium. Actually, Toronto was one of the worst, they said. But the Yankee fans need to be on the on on Sunny Gray right away, just to make them to make sure he notices them and he realizes he's not in a comfort zone. That's what it's all about. But I you know, I think in in in baseball now we're getting too much prediction markets. I just want to see the Yankees continue with their style of play. You know what I'd love to see tonight too? I'd love to see Jazz bunt for a hit.
I'd love to see Jazz use his speed. I'd love to see Jazz not put a lollipop in his mouth, wear his cap a little better, play more like a Yankee. High ceiling. Right. I don't
Dean Balsamini (24:18)
He he has a high ceiling of he has a high ceiling of talent. That's what's so frustrating.
Kevin Kernan (24:23)
want I want him. That's why when I say I want him to bunt, I always found, and again, I I played through college, when you bunt, it brings you back down to seeing the ball, as simple as it sounds. And Jazz is always trying to jack it out. He tried to be Aaron, you know, he tried to be judge. And that's the other beauty of this.
Doing this without Judge, I think the Yankees finally learned last night they're not a one man team, but they all b bond together.
Dean Balsamini (24:47)
Well, I
I'm very impressed that Lombard doesn't look frazzled, Jones doesn't look frazzled, I was saying, and and Rice and Schlitler. And how about the funny thing that
Kevin Kernan (24:56)
And you know Jones
and J let me interrupt one little thing. Jones and Rice are very close friends. They feed off each other. And that's how you become a great team. I mean, look what the Phillies did today. Harper makes that terrible error in right field. The very next inning, Swaber Homers, Harper Homers ties it up. Bone hits an opposite field Homer when he's trying to pull it. That's that's that's postseason magic. That's what you have to do.
Dean Balsamini (25:19)
And
how about the irony that Rice wears number 22 and had better numbers than than Soto, whose mother I hope is enjoying watching tonight's game.
Kevin Kernan (25:30)
Ha ha ha ha.
Dean Balsamini (25:32)
I'm not a bitter, but that I bet you he's kicking himself, not long term, because I think Soto's like a robot. He puts up his numbers, he'll be great. I'm not, there's no doubt about it. When he but he probably would love to be.
playing in some of these games with the Yankees 'cause he looked
Kevin Kernan (25:51)
Well, let me give
you a little insight there, 'cause one of the things I did this spring training when I went to the Mets, I went over to Juan and I I know him pretty well, you know, and I mentioned I mentioned Pat Rossler, who was the Yankees longtime batting coach, 'cause Pat told me, Hey, make sure you say hello to tell him tell him six. That's Pat's number. He's known as six in the game. Tell tell Juan that six said hello. When when I went over and told Juan that, his eyes lit up, he had that look like,
Good days. How you know, how's he doing? I miss him. you know, type of thing. And and yeah, Soto had I have no problem with Soto did. He went for the money. He gotta go for the money. Also, I said it I said it day one. He was never gonna sign with the Yankees 'cause it w Aaron Judge was the man. Soto wanted to be the man and I think he's learning that it takes more to being than wanting to be the man to be the man. You actually gotta be the man. And that's that's where we're at with him. But don't get me sorry with the Mets because
Dean Balsamini (26:47)
Well that's what I was gonna say. Y Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (26:50)
it's
I the column I wrote one I wanna throw one stat out from the column I wrote the other day. 'Cause I still to me, Dean, we knew about some of the Yankee guys coming along since they were younger. Lom Lombard, for example, he's gonna be good. The Mets should have known about PCA from the day but what happened was Van Wagner and his his his front office got him. The next front office doesn't know what the hell they're doing.
S some guy named Zach Scott suddenly becomes interim GM and he trades he trades their best prospect for nothing, basically, bias and the stat I used, which I'm sure I did it to piss off all Mets fans, with the two P don't first of all, maybe they need to keep all their Pete's and not get rid of Pete's.
Dean Balsamini (27:36)
Yeah, really.
Kevin Kernan (27:37)
But the sec the stat I used was this year alone, that was eighty eight home runs the Mets could have had if they kept their Pete's. Forty five and forty three.
So you can't be any stupider than that. Give the Mets the Yankees credit. They'd hung on to the judges. That's why you don't trade Spencer Jones. That's why you don't trade Ben Rice. the Yankees have that core and that's what's important.
Dean Balsamini (28:00)
Well, I I I I find it amusing too. Like I've always been a Pete Alonso fan, and I know you are too. It's like but all he does is show up for every game, interact well with the fans, leans into the pressure, and puts up forty, a hundred to one hundred and twenty RBIs, and then he hit two sixty five this year when nobody's
Kevin Kernan (28:19)
Yeah.
Dean Balsamini (28:20)
hitting.
Kevin Kernan (28:21)
And it's and it's tough for ballpark to tell him runs. And the other thing is, and this is very important, I don't want to underestimate this 'cause this is more insight for the fan, but you gotta have t you just can't have certain kind of guys on your team. You need a little goofiness, all right? And that's one of the reasons why I like Ben Rice. He's a little goofy, in in ways. Pete was a little goofy. You can't have all s you know, you know, guys that are just so straight edge or sodotype guys or
Lindor, the hugger, y y you need to have some goofiness to your team. And that that's what the nerds don't understand. That's what David Stearns doesn't understand. They don't get the big picture. A clubhouse is made from all these pieces you put together and that's how you get a winning team. And and
Dean Balsamini (29:04)
Well that's like
even like Nick Swisher was a nice little piece on that two thousand and and nine team. Right. Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (29:07)
For a while. They i i he was good in small doses, Swisher.
And and Swish was good for a while but then there then he kinda wore out of but you're a hundred percent right. He was great in small doses.
Dean Balsamini (29:17)
Guy who I
always liked, I was always a fan with him no matter what team, and he was kinda had a little soto in him in that he'd go for the money. But he gave you everything too was Johnny Damon. The Yankees haven't had a leadoff hitter in such a long time.
Kevin Kernan (29:30)
Johnny Damon was a
great acquisition because again, goofiness, you gotta have that in the clubhouse. And and and plus Damon, he I still remember the play against the Phillies where he
Dean Balsamini (29:43)
that was
Kevin Kernan (29:44)
stole second base and went. I've been I was talking to him about that the week before. Why don't you just get up and go to third? There's nobody there. And he did that.
Dean Balsamini (29:50)
What baseball
IQ and then when he took off and and and the other thing about Damon which is cool, I remember when the Yankees were up three in two thousand and four and they'd just beaten the Red Sox nineteen to eight and Damon's like, well we're just gonna have to come and win the four you know, he was just loose as a goose and that was it.
Kevin Kernan (30:09)
They all work.
And I was not that serious. I still yeah, I I you know, there's two things. The the the double from Tony Clark that went into the stands cost the Yankees. And I and you know, Joe Toure did a great job during his time, but I thought there was some panic bullpen moves there that he didn't see coming. He did miss
Dean Balsamini (30:27)
And he missed Zimmer. He missed Zimmer, right? Zimmer wasn't
Kevin Kernan (30:30)
Zimmer. Zimmer again, goofiness goofiness is a good thing in baseball. You gotta have some goofiness and Zimmer was
Dean Balsamini (30:35)
But you remember when
Joe was out with the the cancer stuff, Zimmer was losing his mind having to deal with George every day. So so they needed each other. And then with Mel of course.
Kevin Kernan (30:47)
No, it's a you know, i i I I think I think we're all expect th this to move on quickly and then we'll see. I think it's a little bit unfair. They play the race, but that's life. Win the division if you don't like it, you know.
And
Dean Balsamini (30:59)
Yeah, they
have they they should you know, there's an opportunity here. It actually they could go out or they could win it all because they do have the pitching if they use their defense correctly and they get some timely hits, and maybe guys just Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (31:11)
Who's any good in the American League, other than the
Rays and and the Rays, see the Rays all the things you talked about in in the intro, the Rays will do. The Rays and the Brewers are very similar. And I think I I said earlier this year that I was rooting for a Rays Brewers World Series just to
Dean Balsamini (31:29)
Right.
Kevin Kernan (31:29)
piss off Manfred. But Freddie Peralta's a good judge of that, because he was with the Brewers, and he he said the their approach to the game from both organizations is the exact same.
How they handle things in the dugout, how they handle things in the clubhouse. So it's not gonna be a cakewalk for the Yankees. They're gonna have to play baseball. But imagine imagine
Dean Balsamini (31:47)
No, I I I'm still
Kevin Kernan (31:49)
if you hit the Rays with baseball and not not the same old Yankees.
Dean Balsamini (31:51)
Yeah. Right.
That's why like they still have business to do. I hope they like they said they they they drill down on tonight because thank you this can easily change on a dime. I never, you know. But but I also want to ask you what happened to our Blue Jays? Why did they why did they flame out this year?
Kevin Kernan (32:11)
a couple of things. the biggest thing of course was Vlad not not hitting, you know. he got the money. my guess is he kinda got the soda like Soto the first year. He was a little overweight, wasn't himself. but these teams don't underst that's what's so amazing about the Dodgers. These teams don't understand about the the the the the journey of going that far into the season. And and I think there's a letdown going into the season.
Springer has some injuries. They never fixed the Jeff Hoffman problem.
Dean Balsamini (32:45)
Right.
Kevin Kernan (32:45)
And and and that was a major problem. And they also, when you lose in the way they did, when they basically shot themselves in the foot twice, that that doesn't just go away. Because you know, so to I I didn't think they'd make the playoffs. I figured they would have a letdown. And once I saw Vlad, and when Vlad came out and said, No, he's getting paid for the past, not the future.
That also tells me mindset where he is at. No wonder they didn't win. They didn't get the leadership from him they needed.
Dean Balsamini (33:16)
Yeah, he's his response should have been, I'm gonna make you I'm gonna make that deal be a bargain by the time I'm done putting numbers on the board. That's what he should have said. Meanwhile
Kevin Kernan (33:24)
Exactly. And team
team team I'm telling you, team chemistry is still huge in baseball. And I think Springer being hurt a little bit. He's he's a glue guy. their pitching was a little sh and also one other point, Gaussman. Gaussman pitched so deep that they they expected too much from him early on. That and and it gets back to my point about the Dodgers being smart. That's why they have two basically two rotations, because they understand what how worn out you get going in.
Dean Balsamini (33:52)
Right, the r
the regular scenes has become a dress rehearsal for them. I was
Kevin Kernan (33:55)
Yes.
Dean Balsamini (33:55)
never but meanwhile, going back to what you were saying about chemistry, I think that's also part of the reason Stanton's on the roster. Just the specter of him, even if he never appears and he's a Yes.
Kevin Kernan (34:05)
And he's well liked. He's well liked in that
clubhouse. He's you know, he he's he he's he's a good teammate and i it gives him also there's nothing wrong with having the big bopper waiting, you know, waiting
Dean Balsamini (34:19)
yeah.
Kevin Kernan (34:19)
if if you need him and and at least take his wax. I go way back. I I remember teams like I think it was the Pirates, they had a pin shooter named Smokey Burgess that was kind of a s a scary thing if he got up there.
It's great to have a big time pinch hitter. Frank Howard was kinda you know, that kind of guy.
Dean Balsamini (34:37)
Well,
even going back, even though I was gonna say in mod it wasn't modern times 'cause now it's nineteen ninety six, it's thirty years. The Yankees of ninety six, when Wade Boggs got the walk in extra innings against the Braves or Darrell
Kevin Kernan (34:47)
Right. Right.
Dean Balsamini (34:48)
Strawberry or Rock Rains comes up, you know, you need those veterans.
Kevin Kernan (34:51)
Exactly.
You need those guys and good teammates and those guys were all good teammates, especially Daryl. Nobody I think from where he was with the Mets to where he became with the Yankees and what he's doing with his life now, no one's changed more in a positive manner. I would I would venture to say almost in the history of baseball. This guy I I know for a fact he's helped a lot of people and it it's great to see.
Dean Balsamini (35:16)
Now, going back to the the playoffs at hand, like right now actually it looks like it's White Sox four, Astros three in the bottom of the four.
Kevin Kernan (35:23)
Yeah, the Astros
Astros have no chance. They're dead. And that this is a bonus for the Yankees.
Dean Balsamini (35:26)
They they look so shocked.
Kevin Kernan (35:29)
This is a bonus for the Yankees 'cause the White Sox, if they happen to meet they they don't scare me at all.
Dean Balsamini (35:35)
Now, if if the Yankees should somehow lose this series, now not saying what the Yankees are gonna do, would you bring Boone back? I thought he did a nice job this year managing actually in overall in the end. Or or you think at this point it doesn't matter, keep the keep what they have going, develop the young guys. He does he doesn't have problems in the
Kevin Kernan (35:54)
Well, you do
Dean Balsamini (35:55)
clubhouse.
Kevin Kernan (35:56)
you're dealing with an organization, Hal Steinbrenner, he doesn't know anybody in baseball. So it's not gonna change. Whatever ca if Cashman deems that to be true, Cashman will make that move. because Cashman always has a buffer between him and someone else. And kinda like the Girardi thing, you know, getting rid of Girardi, for Boone. I I think I really think if Boone doesn't if they don't put up a good
good showing and if they were knocked out by the Red Sox I I think he would definitely be on the hot seat simply because Cashman wants to keep his job. And there are there are some you know, there are some managerial candidates that would be out there w that can do things.
Dean Balsamini (36:36)
People, people, it's so funny. Poor Don Manningley has to suffer through every series. There's never a breeze for the guy. He may have saved his job, at least, you know, and you know, they it they have to win, I think, for him to save his job.
Kevin Kernan (36:49)
It's
a very good thing that d that Donnie Baseball, who I love by the way, is got a low heart rate. 'Cause I I watched his postseason his postgame interview and i it was very good, but it was typical Donnie and you know it's it's that that Midwest, Indiana. Thank God he's got that going. But I personally think he's done a phenomenal job with that team. Phenomenal.
Dean Balsamini (37:12)
There was nothing
as touching as when Bachet put his arm around. That was so heartbreaking. The the Jays out outplayed the Dodgers in the
Kevin Kernan (37:19)
well and and you
asked me earlier, that's another mistake the Jays made, getting rid of Donnie Manley, 'cause he was kinda like their hitting coach. Even though a pop what's his name? Pop and I is his the hitting coach. Donnie
Dean Balsamini (37:30)
Right.
Kevin Kernan (37:31)
did a lot with those guys and they missed him. So again, what what's our central theme here? Chemistry matters. And and Don
Dean Balsamini (37:39)
You you wrote a
c you wrote a column recently calling Pat Murphy the last manager. why do you say that?
Kevin Kernan (37:43)
The last manager. Yeah, he's the last manager. And
because and I I I I've also thought Cash in the in the conversation, Kevin Cash, but he's the last guy who makes the decisions and it's his way or the highway. And and he'll rip guys even if they do if they make a mistake and kinda overcome it. He'll still say that's unacceptable, we can't have that. And and at the same time, he has enough goofiness in him.
Sandwich in the pocket, those kind of things. I I I don't know if you know there's some Rainagrone and some people Aris.
Dean Balsamini (38:22)
Yes.
Kevin Kernan (38:22)
You know Aris, his buddy Aris?
Dean Balsamini (38:24)
No, I know. I i I never remember Negron from the Yankee years with Gooden and and Doc. I mean Daryl.
Kevin Kernan (38:28)
Well you you might f
you might f for fun get Aris on one of your podcasts. Aris is a and here's a story that puts Pat Murphy totally into perspective. Aris is a former Riker Rikers Island guard, okay? Tough as nails, Greek strong Greek guy. still plays baseball in his sixties, still catches. So he was on a back in the nineties, I think I don't know exactly the date, I might have it wrong. He was on a trip to Arizona.
And he was playing baseball out there. Him and his buddy, another Rikers guard, right? Another Rikers guard, they see Arizona State University. Hey, let's go see what it looks like. They jumped the fence. So cause they don't, you know, the Rikers guards, they do what they want to do. they jump the fence, they get in the ballpark, and all of a sudden somebody comes out of the dugout. It's a quiet day in the offseason, and the guy goes, Hey, can I help you guys? And they give him the old New York, No, we're good. You know, we don't need your help. Turns out it was Pat Murphy.
Before the day was over, Pat Murphy had sit in his his his office with these guys, told baseball stories for a couple hours, and gave them two bags worth of Arizona State baseball equipment. And to this day, Pat Murphy is still friends with Aris when they when they come to play the
Dean Balsamini (39:46)
Well.
Kevin Kernan (39:46)
Mets or whatever. So that's you tell me that's an old school baseball guy who cares about the game, understands and can read people. And that's key to what we're talking about right now.
Dean Balsamini (39:57)
Field or the Dodgers to win the World Series?
Kevin Kernan (40:02)
I th I still think they're probably the b the the team that f I find most interesting though is the Padres, the way they're playing. And I think the Padres don't I I I was wondering about I thought they played the Dodgers, but they would play the the winner of the Brays Phillies, I guess. And if the Padres I think the Dodgers will get there unless the Padres knock them out at some point. That's what I think.
Dean Balsamini (40:22)
So you don't
see you don't see Philadelphia or Atlanta being a threat.
Kevin Kernan (40:27)
Philly Philly has the trouble has tr trouble getting out of their own way. They are the second scariest team to me. I have Dodgers, Padres, Phillies. Because of because you can't underestimate the DNA of Swarber and Bryce Harper and Bohm and some of those guys. If Trey Turner ever figures it out. And Zach, you know, here's the other irony, Zach Wheeler, who I love I you know, I told you before about Zach Wheeler, how the how the Mets
how dumb the Mets are by letting him go. He was the one they should have kept. And you know, so so they have some high quality gamers that could could but do they have enough? Do they have and and Christopher Sanchez showed it today. So it's it's not gonna
Dean Balsamini (41:08)
R rank your
Kevin Kernan (41:09)
be as easy for the Dodgers. I can see the Dodgers getting knocked out. I could
Dean Balsamini (41:12)
Rank
your rank your rank your playoff managers best to worst.
Kevin Kernan (41:17)
Well, the best is Murphy. The the question is, will he have enough firepower to get through? 'Cause sometimes you need like the Philly show today, you need that eighth inning home run from your studs.
Dean Balsamini (41:29)
Right.
Kevin Kernan (41:29)
and and and he j he just doesn't have that. But he's by far the best. And then I would put Cash, then and then I would put Dave Roberts and then and Donnie's right up there. Th I put all four those four guys are right up there. Donnie's different 'cause he doesn't put pressure on his guys.
he he lets them play loose. And again, I don't know who has the analytical nerdiness in in interrupting them the most. I get a feeling it's Donnie, but I I don't know for sure. I think the other guys I mentioned all have the ability to manage the way they want to manage. And and I think Dave Roberts is he's really grown. He's he's become quite the manager.
Dean Balsamini (42:09)
So just because we can predict also and we have, you know, who do you like in this series, you know, at at hand right now? Phillies Braves, who's gonna win that game three?
Kevin Kernan (42:20)
Well actually on the Dibble show today when they were losing, I Don't count the rot Phillies out. I think the Phillies are gonna win. I I just think there's you know, Dean, I've been to so many playoff games in Atlanta, no matter what the state I've been in the three ballparks down there. And I know they do the chop thing and they do the the the the the chanting, but there's not a it's not an intimidating place to play.
Dean Balsamini (42:42)
No, it's very robotic.
Kevin Kernan (42:44)
Very robotic, very nice south, and you know what the Phillies learned today?
The Phillies learned a very valuable lesson today. That ball, and they got the two o'clock game again. unless things change tonight, I don't know. I guess they could change. But that ball flies to to right field in Truis. So I think they've they figured out the ballpark. And I think they're a very dangerous team. I just don't know if the if the I don't think the Braves have enough pitching. I I think they took out their starter a little bit too early today. Well Weiss is a good manager too, but
What they did with Tyler Malley, remember he stunk with the Giants. How did he get better? They told him, forget about shaping with the the you know, all all the too many sliders and stuff, go more hard stuff, more you know, more and and and they and and that's what he did. He he's he he's become a very good pitcher. So so and Nakuna doesn't look quite right to me yet. He struck out a couple times today, very big situations, took three strikes, didn't even swing in a key situation.
And if he's not right, they're in trouble. Whereas I think Tatis, again, getting back to peace, the best thing about Tatis is he's a he's the best player in the game when he wants to be the best player in the game. So you have to get him in that mindset. PCA brings that automatically, the Dodgers will bring that automatically. So you know, when we get to this time of year, it's about putting the ball in play and having superstars who do their job.
Dean Balsamini (44:12)
Did you did you was your heart in your throat a little bit? I mean, from the fans end of it, not not the the journalist end of it. When the Yankees actually covered first base with the pitcher last night, I was very
Kevin Kernan (44:22)
Ha ha.
Dean Balsamini (44:22)
excited. I stood up and clapped.
Kevin Kernan (44:25)
PFP. PFP is all the d the the Phillies are still you know, they they still have that PFP problem with Kirking last year. He hasn't come back from it, you know, against the Dodgers. They d didn't know where to throw it, throws it a wire at home. you know, that that's all but you know, I'd like to know who the PFP coach is for the for I know it's not Matt Blake 'cause he's like a shape shape artist. But the Yankees are I think they're getting maybe maybe it's Rojas.
You know, he's like the infield coach type of guy. But and and I always liked Rojas, even when he was the mess manager. I thought he was a good baseball guy, obviously Felipe Bay's son, so he knows the game inside and out. So I think the Yankees are letting some of their coaches coach more, which is nice.
Dean Balsamini (45:09)
My one gut move, and I'm not even saying it's the right one, you know, if you look at the numbers, it's probably the wrong one. I kinda like Goldschmidt at first base with Freed pitching and they've got they're not playing him tonight.
Kevin Kernan (45:22)
Yeah,
I I I'm I'm with ya on that. I like Goldsmith at first base simply because a couple things that maybe people don't realize. He's he's probably the best base runner on the team. He's not the fastest, so don't don't take my words out. He's the best base runner on the team. He's the best probably the best leader on the team. He's the best first baseman on the team. And w you know, they they scared me last night putting Rosario at third. I don't know why the Red Sox did but you know
Dean Balsamini (45:50)
Yeah, I don't I agree. You gotta go
with McMah you gotta go with your best defense. I don't care what the
Kevin Kernan (45:54)
You gotta go with
best defense because you were pitching down the Yankees these Yankees are different. They're a pitching team. Starting pitching is who they are. So you gotta go with their best defense. Now, I will say this. There'll be a lot of changes. So, you know, Goldsmith could be back in the game at a certain time. But but I I like it. I I like you know, I like the way he you know, I wait I like the way he approaches the game. Maybe it just wasn't a good pitching matchup. So I don't have a problem keeping trying to keep everybody involved.
And Garcia is a good hitter. Garcia I said it when the trade
Dean Balsamini (46:24)
Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (46:24)
was made. I thought you know, I thought that was a good trade. He he can do some damage and you gotta keep everybody happy. I thought they would use Garcia more at second, but since Volpe can play second now, that that's a moot point.
Dean Balsamini (46:34)
Again,
I love the idea of only ten pitchers because I don't want to see the merigor round of pitchers coming in and out.
Kevin Kernan (46:38)
Love it. Love it.
And it's always been that way. It w you know, and again we usu again, I'm so old I remember when the playoffs were a World Series. But
Dean Balsamini (46:48)
Sure.
Kevin Kernan (46:49)
you know? But you look back at those those those th those playoff teams in a seven game series, they would you know ten they they'd be lucky if they had ten pitchers.
Dean Balsamini (46:58)
I think
it just instills confidence. I even going back, you know, to Palmer versus catfish or Seaver versus, you know, whoever. I i it's it's just it's more compelling on the big stage. You wanna see these world class athletes play and duke it out, you know? And that's
Kevin Kernan (47:15)
And if you have
a strong bench, why would you use a strong bench? And that that's one thing the Yankees have. They have a good bench. And
Dean Balsamini (47:20)
Yes, and
then when they didn't have the when they would shorten it to three or four players, they wouldn't use the third catcher, so you really didn't have anybody. You had one or two when the Yankees played in the twenty-four World Series, they they didn't use any bench and they had bases loaded, one out, and the second game they didn't use it. They had no but they always looked anemic when it came time to to make a move there. And I and and the fundamentals cost them too. And hopefully that doesn't rear its ugly head.
Kevin Kernan (47:47)
And the other thing we're pitching too is with the with the new rules where you don't have lefty specialists anymore, you don't need as many of You d you just don't. And
Dean Balsamini (47:52)
Yeah. So
so I assume that you like the Padres over the Cubs.
Kevin Kernan (47:57)
I f from the beginning and the I think the Cubs have been so pitching shallow all year and it's gonna catch up to And and you saw with board starting and things like that, change ups, they hit a long way. and and again, I I think that's that's the best home field advantage in baseball.
Dean Balsamini (48:14)
And you like the white socks, right?
Kevin Kernan (48:16)
Yeah, 'cause I hate the I they I don't know I don't think the White Sox are any good, but the Astros are terrible. And they're already bit they're bitching
Dean Balsamini (48:22)
Okay.
Kevin Kernan (48:23)
about the fans, they're whining 'cause they got booed a little bit. And I h one of the best comments I heard was, Well, the with the fans booing you can't hear you can't hear the garbage cans. So so that was a good thing.
Dean Balsamini (48:34)
So so so
you let's you know, we're I assume that you think the Yankees are gonna find a way to outlast Boston and and whether it's three or whether they do it tonight.
Kevin Kernan (48:43)
I'd be stunned if they don't win tonight.
Dean Balsamini (48:45)
Okay, let's just say they do for the sake of we we are ahead of of all this. They play the Rays and then say the White Sox would would play the Guardians. One of those teams is gonna be in the ALCS.
So I assume you think that either the Rays or Yankees would go to the World Series?
Kevin Kernan (49:03)
Absolutely. I think it's the easiest path the Yankees have had to the World Series, maybe in their history, maybe when they were United States steel history Yankees and they were gonna roll through everybody. I mean if you're facing the Guardians, are you kidding me? They haven't they haven't won a World Series since nineteen forty eight. you can't let the Guardians beat you. And and and the Rays are the you know, the Ra the Rays are the stumbling
Dean Balsamini (49:29)
And and and and so we assume we're talking San Diego or LA coming out from from the NLCS, Yankees or Tampa.
which is the matchup that the country wants to s see or the networks wanna see, I imagine Yankees Dodgers again.
Kevin Kernan (50:31)
Yankees
Dodgers. I think they can sell the Yankees Padres too.
Dean Balsamini (50:35)
Yeah.
Kevin Kernan (50:36)
I think that'll be a good sell because of Tatis 'cause he's kinda going back to the MLB the game, you know, when he was on the cover. but yeah, the the T V wants Yankees Dodgers. It's a natural rematch. and also the other thing in there the
Dean Balsamini (50:51)
Is this team better than
the twenty four team? Do they have a glass chin? 'Cause they they they they figure things out this time or or you think they've
Kevin Kernan (50:57)
I think they can
always figure things out 'cause they have a lot of talent. They are getting older. and the other thing why it's a good s the Yankees and Dodgers are a good sell, if if the Dodgers win, they become the first team since the Yankees to win three in a row. So it's the Yankees the Yankees
Dean Balsamini (51:12)
Right. Right. I would be great and from the Yankee.
Kevin Kernan (51:15)
are not only trying to win the World Series, they're trying to protect their history against the Dodgers.
Dean Balsamini (51:19)
And they should but they
should have been selling that all year as their as their mission statement. They don't make mission statements.
Kevin Kernan (51:25)
No, they
don't make mission statements and but but you know what? We we've been so disappointed by the Yankees that this I thought I think we saw some things some light at the end of the tunnel in the way they approached things.
Dean Balsamini (51:37)
Really, I
really like the way they looked. And that's the thing. I think the Yankee brass misconstrues people like us, our feelings, and the fans. There it's nothing, there's nothing wrong about expecting excellence when that's what you've been selling all these years, and that's what you sell for expensive tickets and your chicken buckets and everything else. I think that's a great place to be, like just being in New York, working in New York. Have you worked in a
Kevin Kernan (52:03)
Well well here's the
key to the way I see that too. I think the Yankee players now are expecting e excellence. They're not just for the ride anymore. You got some guys who are gamers mentally you know, say what you want about Wells, you know, and and the problems he had. He he's he's a hundred percent for his pitcher. And he's and and
Dean Balsamini (52:24)
yeah. And I think Rodon
I I'm really impressed. Rodon turned it around. He could have went he could
Kevin Kernan (52:28)
Yeah, Rod same thing
with Rodon. Sa you know, there's not one guy you look on the Yankees roster and and say, he's he's kind of a prima donna other than Jazz. You know, jazz is
Dean Balsamini (52:38)
No, they're alike
they're but he's a good guy too. That's what's so frustrating. He's not a bad guy.
Kevin Kernan (52:41)
Well Well he's not
a bad guy, but I've been in so many clubhouses with guys like him. And I that's why I think they're pushing the right buttons here, because now it's like, okay, Jazz, y you you think you're gonna be a forty forty or whatever, fifty forty guy. Yeah. And
Dean Balsamini (52:56)
Right, get mad and get you earn your contract.
Kevin Kernan (52:58)
that and that's a good thing.
Dean Balsamini (53:03)
Do you ch do you trust bet
do you trust Bednar in a big spot? I think he battles.
Kevin Kernan (53:08)
I trust he
I trust him to give his best. Do I trust him if he y is used a lot? No. And that's the key. That's another good key. As much as they can stay away from Bednar, that is a plus for them down the road. And that's I think what you said was very, very important. When if they get to the World Series, they're gonna have to lean on one of their starters to help close some games.
Dean Balsamini (53:31)
Yeah, I'd be pitching shlitler two to three times or two times in a relief stint. You gotta do it.
Kevin Kernan (53:34)
You know what? The
other thing too, we saw with Andrew Painter today with the Phillies. I I would have no I think Rodon has that kind of that that that headspace where he's not afraid of a big moment. I wouldn't mind seeing Rodon use utilize late in games.
Dean Balsamini (53:52)
And and and if you had to gun to your head who wins the World Series.
Kevin Kernan (53:57)
Well, I I I I still th I I i if Flitler pitches the way he does and he can be Louisiana Lightning again. I could see the Yankees winning the World Series, but I'm not gonna go there. I still think I still think you gotta knock the Dodgers off their high horse.
Dean Balsamini (54:13)
be such
a great thing for the city after the Knicks too, kind of reestablishing New York.
Kevin Kernan (54:17)
Well that's and again, these
things that's why I brought that up. These things go, you know, way back when, in eighty six, you know, and and things like that with the Giants and thing thing it's all connected and and the the Cam Scatter thing with the Cam Slitler thing is pretty funny in my mind. so it would the certainly the city is primed for it. The city has plen plenty of problems. and and they c they could use something to bring together. And I think I think that's I think that's the the the sweet story. Will it happen? We'll see.
Dean Balsamini (54:47)
Okay.
Kevin Kernan (54:47)
I have a friend in
Cal in California who's been on my case all year because I've been saying the Yankees are gonna get to the World Series. He's been sending me stuff, ripping me left and right, and I didn't hear from him last
night.
Dean Balsamini (55:01)
and just to wrap it up, as far as on your personal favorite playoff team to cover baseball wise.
Kevin Kernan (55:08)
Well, I like that two thousand four World Series, you know. And yeah, I I I I liked every one of 'cause I was especially they all had their little different stories. and when you see a team get to the c even those even that pain in the ass Astros team dealing with Beltron, he I always thought Beltron was a good guy. You know, I was happy for him and things like that. So I I I like every
Every World Series team is kinda fun to when you get to the World Series, Dean, it's just baseball. So that's that's the nice thing. And there's no there's no other no nothing else. Nothing else but baseball. Pitchers doing their job, hitters doing their job and it it's it's a relief. It's a relief.
Dean Balsamini (55:50)
And and and other than and then other
than Don Mattingley, favorite or perse player or coach you'd like to see win a ring?
Kevin Kernan (55:59)
Well let's see Judge win around. You know. You know.
Dean Balsamini (56:02)
You will you and
then finally will he be back after this round or will he play it all this postseason?
Kevin Kernan (56:06)
he's coming
back. There's no doubt in my mind he's coming back. He wouldn't be you know, I think the Yankees told him you know, we can win without you this round. And get yourself right and and I I didn't make a big deal of him not being in the introductions. You know, everybody you know, everything's a big deal nowadays. Still getting he's he's getting he's with the trainers at that point. So yeah, I would
Dean Balsamini (56:30)
Well
Kevin Kernan (56:30)
love to see Judge win a ring and I also there's a side of me
To be quite honest, you know, I spent ten years in San Diego. I wanna see the Padre I'd love to see the Padre fans win a ring. You that's a team that never won. They have the best fans and always had the best fans. all my years there. And and and what I liked about the Padre fans too, they were so easy to buy off. In other
Dean Balsamini (56:52)
Huh.
Kevin Kernan (56:52)
words, if you had a if you had a a Beach Town night, it was a full house, you know. So
Dean Balsamini (56:59)
Well,
Kevin Kernan (56:59)
they're true fans.
Dean Balsamini (57:00)
AMBS, America's most beloved sports writer, I thank you for your time and your playoff input. And we'll see how it turns out. And once again, coming to you from Cedar Beans Coffee Joint. And this show episode was produced and engineered by Dave Fletcher. And I thank you for your time. It's always a pleasure, and I'll see you down the road.
Kevin Kernan (57:22)
Well yeah, and and I just thought of one other team because they were so much fun. When when the when the Reds beat the A's, that was a fun thing 'cause nobody expected it. And those guys were they were going they were going out they would go they would rather have fights after games in in opposing clubhouses. I remember Divble and and Dave Stewart, so that was some fun stuff. So let's get back to old time baseball where guys really don't like each other.
Dean Balsamini (57:44)
Well, thank you so much. Catch Kevin
Ball9.com. Great read. He he doesn't it's not in and out. It's it's deep. You'll hear from scouts. You'll hear inside info that you won't get anywhere else. Thank you so much.
Kevin Kernan (57:58)
You got it.