Full Transcript for Episode 20

00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:39.839 Luck, smoke and mirrors, same group, same undisciplined approach, different results. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.800 It's not a well-balanced attack. 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:45.439 And here, you know, here's the DNA part. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:53.279 The players are not going to change the way they do things unless the right people make them do them differently. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:57.759 Um, the trouble is there there aren't any viable replacements. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:09.519 Um players get really motivated when their bosses are telling them, look, dude, make an adjustment or I'll bring in somebody who will. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:15.759 You know, and that's the that that's the problem, is these kids are way too comfortable. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:21.199 I I as I said, I'm not in the clubhouse, I'm not there every day to see what's going on. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:24.319 I could be way wrong, but I doubt I am. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:39.600 I've been in enough big league clubhouses to understand that you know when things go that poorly for that long, uh, you sit down and you bring the group in and you're like, look, we need to make an adjustment. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:43.680 And these kind of things happen week to week, series to series. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:50.560 You know, like, hey, I love the way we did this, but you know what, we're facing a different pitching staff this week. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:53.040 Here's how they've gotten you out in the past. 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:59.360 Here's an idea on how to approach these guys, or better yet, here's how they're going to approach you. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:06.480 And this is the kind of stuff that we need to do in order to be successful. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:14.560 Um, you know, the manager's job is a tough one because he's dealing with the personnel that he's been given. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:23.600 He doesn't build this team, and so, you know, unfortunately, Schneider's got a tough job, has had a tough job. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:28.319 You know, obviously the the injuries started right away, but again, no excuses. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:32.879 The DNA of this group is all wrong. 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:38.800 And, you know, they need they need to become multidimensional. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:46.160 They've got a full lineup of guys that are basically the same, they can all be pissed to the same. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:52.959 Um, you know, in my opinion, they need legitimate threats on the base pass. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:57.199 I can't see one impact set of wheels in their lineup. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:01.759 There's no Kenny Lofton type guy who can kill you with his legs. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:06.079 And you know, you'll say, okay, well, Zonny, you know, that's not the group that they are. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:07.120 Well, you know what? 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:08.399 That's what I'm talking about. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:10.480 I'm talking about a balanced attack. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:15.759 They need a guy in their lineup who you're always worried about in a tight game. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:17.279 When's he coming up? 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:20.639 His speed makes everyone around him better. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:27.040 The guys hitting behind him get fastballs and fastball counts because he's standing up on a breaking ball if he takes off. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:30.560 The kind of speed that steals second and third. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:36.159 It's a high-on-base percentage guy with a little bit of pop in his bat who can play some defense. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:40.000 A guy who stretches the defense with speed and gap power. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:58.240 You know, this is a guy who is likely sitting on the bench somewhere in the show, probably a younger player, and he's either in the big leagues as a fourth outfielder or utility infielder, or he's in the minor leagues somewhere, but he's ready. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.360 He's probably in double-A or AAA ready to come on up. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:14.639 Um, a guy like Kevin Gaussman is traded for this guy and maybe a low-level prospect, but Gossman has struggled recently, and he was the guy. 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:18.320 You know, he's an aging pitcher, he's on the last year of a deal. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:22.559 He's exactly what you look to trade when you're out of it. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:32.240 The low-level prospect you get might be a guy with big power potential or a premium A-ball arm that just hasn't been able to put it together yet. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:39.519 But the Jays need to start putting some food in the cupboard because they don't have it. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:42.960 Right now, their two biggest prospects are you know shortstops. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:45.759 Well, you can only have one guy play shortstop at a time. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:50.639 And last time I checked, Andres Jimenez, well, he used to be a premium defender. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:52.320 He's fallen off quite a bit this year. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:54.240 We'll talk about that a little later. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:59.759 Um, you know, other guys that I would trade to try to address you know holes in the organization. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.759 Shane Shane Bieber looks like he's getting himself together. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:07.039 He's a veteran and a former Cy Young winner. 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:10.159 Um, he could bring you a player or two. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:15.759 I know if I were looking for rotational depth going into the postseason, I'd look for a guy like him. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.080 It might cost me a mid-level prospect. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:18.639 So what? 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:23.120 You know, if you're a team like the Dodgers, you are stocked. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:24.159 You got it. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.159 Um the Jays need to take a serious look at the rotation next year. 00:10:28.320 -->

00:10:31.679 Uh Savage has been good, but he's exposed now. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:36.720 He is he is what he is, and teams are starting to adjust to him. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:40.399 Um Cease is definitely you know an untouchable. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:49.919 You got to hope that Ponce is gonna come back from the knee injury, Barrillos come back from the elbow injury, but highly doubtful. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:55.120 You got a couple of question marks, like just to just a round out of five-man rotation. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:57.600 So, where are you gonna get those guys? 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:02.320 Well, probably gonna get them you know through a free agent signing. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:12.240 You know, Simeon Woods Richardson comes to mind as a guy who uh, as of the trade deadline, should be put into rotation and given eight starts. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.519 Let's find out. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.600 Let's find out what this guy can do. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:20.399 Uh I'd trade Jeff Hoffman today, right now. 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:24.799 This is the highest value that this guy is gonna have. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:29.519 Uh compiled a 180 or ERA over 10 innings of work. 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:36.080 Uh, you might be able to trick somebody in the league to thinking that this guy's back to form. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.600 But was he ever really closer material? 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.720 Or was he just a closer because they said he was? 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:50.559 I mean, the guy's got a 4-8 ERA over his career, and he's pretty much that guy. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:12:06.559 But right now, he's on a roll, and you put him in a bullpen to add depth to a playoff team, and you might be able to pull something, some rabbit out of a hat, and find yourself a diamond in the rough somewhere down in the minor leagues. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.480 Um, the stuff's there. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.440 But the same problems are going to always plague him. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:15.440 He's a field guy, he throws more breaking balls than he does fastballs. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:22.399 The fastball command is not good, but a unif a new uniform is what he needs at this point. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:31.919 If you want to keep him, if you want to keep his career going, uh, you definitely need to move this guy for something. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:34.320 And yeah, I think right now that is the highest value. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:37.679 I wouldn't wait till the trade deadline to move Jeff Hoffman. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:46.480 I would I would be on the phones trying to find somebody that needs bullpen help that's in first or second place right now, and I'd move him right now. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:48.639 Uh George Springer's another guy. 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:50.080 I'm I'm moving him. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:54.240 Uh Springer, proven postseason winner, needs to be moved, though. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:56.799 His best year, literally behind

him. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:58.000 It was last year. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:02.159 I don't think you're ever going to see a year like that from George Springer ever again. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.440 He needs to go. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.039 He needs to go now. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:28.080 And you can see him, you know, on a on a on a high-level team uh that could use some veteran leadership that, and who knows, maybe going to a playoff team will breathe some some wind into George's sails, and you know, he he could he could be a big boost for a team down the stretch. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:37.039 You're gonna get at least one low one top-level prospect, or maybe two low, you know, low, mid, low to mid-level prospects for a guy like Springer. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:41.600 Teams that are trying to win, they they overspend. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:44.080 They they give you more than they need to. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:48.559 And and you can't discount proven pro-season winners. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:52.960 Pro-season baseball is a different animal, and guys either step up or they don't. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:55.200 You know, some of them you know wither. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:56.480 Not George Springer. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:14:00.000 Uh that's why he's exactly the kind of guy you want. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.039 Uh the Jays need to address center field. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.399 Varshow's not the guy. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.360 I'm sorry. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.720 Um he has no feel at the plate. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:15.360 He's definitely not a guy that I want in my lineup for 158 games a year. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:17.679 Uh just swings and misses too much. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.120 No approach at all. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:22.399 And if he does have one, it's completely wrong. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:25.120 Um, there's just too much swing and miss in there. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:28.000 Um, I thought he was going to make a move earlier this year. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:34.559 I like some of the stuff that he was doing with his hands earlier in the season to try to get some movement going. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:40.879 Uh, but no, he he's completely regressed, in my opinion, on both sides of the ball. 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:46.960 His defensive metrics are awful this year compared to what we thought he was. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:49.440 Um, you can't have that guy playing center field. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.919 He's a fourth outfielder on a contender. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:58.080 Um, you know, it's it's it's it's just not it's not good. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:07.279 Um and for a guy who is known as a defender, you can't have your defensive metrics slipping, slipping, slipping. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.480 I mean, it's it's just it's it can't happen. 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:14.000 Here's a guy that's definitely taking the at-bats on the field with him. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:18.639 Um he's not playing defense the way he once did, and that's unacceptable. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:21.440 Um But you know what? 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:31.440 He he's not the only guy taking a step back defensively this year, which which brings me back to the whole point of taking bad at-bats out on the field. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:36.000 Um remember when Andres Jimenez came out of the gates really, really well? 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:46.799 Uh well, he's hitting 235, and you can accept that when he's an elite defender, but he's absolutely not an elite defender this year. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:57.360 Um and if you're a team that has a middle-of-the-pack defense, which the Jays do, uh you better kill people offensively. 00:15:57.440 --> 00:16:01.600 But if you're not killing them offensively, you're you're in deep trouble. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:08.320 And uh that's exactly what's happened to Jimenez, Varsho, Clement. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:14.000 Now, Clement, you know, he's still getting his hits, still not producing runs. 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:28.799 Uh, but he he's transitioned from a plus 10 fielding uh run utility profile to negative defensive run values, minus two a month's routine miscues. 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.799 You know, what's he thinking about? 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:41.600 Probably digging himself a little bit because everybody's saying what a great guy he is, and he's an all-star and a top vote getter, and but he's not paying attention to his defense this year, and it's clear. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:47.600 Uh the Jays are not good defensively, and they needed to be because they don't they don't score any runs. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:51.919 Um, you know, hitting is contagious. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:53.039 People say that all the time. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:55.919 Well, so is everything else in a big league locker room. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.679 Uh the team struggled all year. 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:00.559 These guys are clearly taking their bats on the field. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:04.640 Uh their attitude is exactly what it is. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:15.359 Uh they started, they must have, you know, start to believe their own press, and when people were saying how great they are, and and they've been unable to separate offense from defense. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:18.720 Um pitching, part of the defense. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.720 It's been pretty good this year. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:24.400 Uh middle of the pack, 4.14 ERA. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:27.920 Bullpen, I don't I don't know how they're doing it. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:34.240 Uh 361 ERA, uh, third and saves, thank God for Louis Varland. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:45.759 Um but uh the the Jays pitching staff, in my opinion, has been good enough this year to win if they had the offense production uh from the team a year ago. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:47.519 Um, but they don't. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:52.640 Uh they probably feel like they've got to carry the team, and they have at points along the way.

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:59.759 Um but I still think their starters need to have an attitude of we're going nine, even though they're not. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:03.839 Uh bullpen's been, you know, up and down. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:05.519 It's fatigue. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:11.599 And it's gonna continue to plague them if they don't have an answer for getting deeper into ball games. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.680 And I'm just talking by by one inning. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:19.279 Uh, because one inning over 162, that's a lot of stuff for a bullpen to cover. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:25.200 They they moved Corbin to the bullpen to give him a little length, but he's not been good out of the pen. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:28.079 Um he he ran out of gas. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:30.799 I really don't envy anybody in this situation. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:41.279 You know, the the the question, though, that everybody's got to be asking themselves is are the Jays gonna go all in in this group for another year, or are they gonna address the problems that they've seen? 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:44.240 Because the league's not gonna forget how to get them out. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:48.000 Uh, the league's not gonna forget how to approach these guys. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:19:00.319 And I can say right now, the the guys that are in that clubhouse uh probably aren't gonna be the kind of guys that are gonna go home this offseason and be like, well, you know, what could I improve on? 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.720 Because they certainly didn't do that last year. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:10.480 They went home digging themselves, go to game seven of the World Series, everybody's kissing their ass, talking about how great they are. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:14.079 Oh, we're gonna we're gonna be a powerhouse, we're gonna, we're gonna do it. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.240 Well, you've got to go play the games on the field. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:30.160 And the other teams, they got tired of losing to them, and they made the necessary adjustments to beat the Blue Jays, and it's clear that the Jays haven't been able to make that adjustment back. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:40.720 So the trade deadline is is is coming, and I can tell you with all kinds of certainty the Jays need to be sellers. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:46.400 When we come back on Walk Off Slams, we'll get into a little more Blue Jays talk. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:20:00.559 This is kind of a double Blue Jays show, and we want to make sure that uh people get an idea because people are asking me um who's untouchable at this point, and we'll talk about that when we come back on Walk-Off Slams. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:06.079 You're listening to Walk Off Slams with Greg Zahn on AM 1150. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.440 Welcome back to Walkoff Slams. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:26.240 I'm your host, Greg Zahn, and we are talking all things Blue Jays a lot today because the trade deadline, which is on the calendar, it's one of the funnest times of

the year, uh, especially for armchair general managers. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:30.319 Who are the Jays going to trade and who is untouchable? 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:38.960 Well, in segment one, I talked about who I thought needed to go, who might be able to give you something. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:42.559 And uh, you know, I've got a little bit of a surprise for you. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:48.000 Um you know, Vlad Jr., untouchable. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.839 Cease, untouchable. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:55.279 You Savage, untouchable, Louis Varlan, Alejandro Kirk. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:21:07.920 And if you're a sentimental guy, if you're ruled by your emotions, you would say that Ernie Clement would be untouchable. 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:13.359 Even though he isn't a run producer, his defense has gotten worse instead of remaining elite. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:16.880 Um I'd actually trade him for that. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:22.079 I'd actually trade him because I think this is the best you're gonna get from Ernie Clement. 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:31.599 Unless somebody can get in his ear and make him understand what it is that they need from him. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.440 Because I don't need a guy who hits a soft 300. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:43.119 I mean, his value is at its highest it's been, even though his ZARP is only 0.7. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:56.000 And, you know, for those of you that don't understand ZARP, it's a clever little formula, and I named it uh Z A R P Zon's run production formula. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:03.279 Average player in the big leagues produces about 0.7 runs per game for his team. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:13.599 And the formula is as follows you add the run scored plus RBIs, subtract the homers because you can't double dip, and you divide it by the number of games played. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:16.319 Ernie's average. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:20.880 He gets a lot of hits, but he makes a lot of quick outs. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:25.519 The hits trick you into thinking he's a productive player, but he really isn't. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:30.880 And, you know, he's popular. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.920 There's no doubt about it. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.839 I'm sure Ernie's a great guy. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:38.079 But he doesn't do a whole lot on offense that help you win. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.279 Average at best. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.559 I mean, feather. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:48.480 I know I'm going to ruffle feathers, but he is proof that fans should not be involved in picking the starting lineups at the all-star game. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:52.559 They vote with their emotions instead of their heads. 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:56.720 They might also be emotional when they build a roster. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.519 I'm not. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:59.200 I'm absolutely not. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:01.119 I look at it very plainly. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:04.480 Does this guy help me put W's in the ledger? 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:10.319 Easily tricked by the 100 plus hits he's gotten this year and the nearly 300 batting average. 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:16.720 Yet Akamoto has done way more for the offense, and he's got 20 less hits. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:20.319 His ZARP is almost elite. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:25.599 And when I say elite, that means producing one run a game for your team. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.599 The ZARP would be a thousand. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:31.759 When you look at the elite players around the league, their ZARP is over a thousand. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:34.000 And it's plain as day. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:35.359 That's why I love the formula. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:38.319 Akamoto, 937 Zarp. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:54.960 Um, and I'll even argue that Vladimir Gurell Jr., for all the shade that this guy's caught for not being productive offensively, for not hitting any home runs, he's got a 925 Zarp with 15 less hits and only six homers. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:24:01.599 He's got less homers and less hits, and yet he's produced more runs for the Toronto Blue Jays than Ernie Clement. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:06.400 You know, he wants his at-bats over quickly. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:13.039 Uh he's not going to change who he is unless the Jays make him change, and who knows what you're going to get from him. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.319 How is he going to react? 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:26.160 He's got great bats of ball skills, you know, and I don't share a locker room with him, but from where I sit, it's easy for me to say the at-bats are selfish based on the approach. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.440 But I don't know him. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:32.640 Pretty hard to ignore the fact that everyone loves him, and that probably is the problem. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:39.680 Uh the other guys see him having the kind of at-bats he's had, and they do exactly the same. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:44.799 Believe it or not, gang, Ernie Clement is the identity of the Jays lineup. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:50.319 The other guys don't have his bat-to-ball skills, but they're watching and they're watching the wrong guy. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.400 But nothing's been done about it. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:54.400 I mean, what are you going to say to the rest of the guys? 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:57.599 Oh, it's okay for Ernie to have these kind of at bats, but you can't. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:04.880 You have to be disciplined and have team A-Bs, but it's okay for him to do whatever because he hits a soft 300 and people like him. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:10.799 If it's me, I trade him for big value and address the underlying issues of the offensive identity. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:13.759 And the teams need pitching depth. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.519 The team needs pitching depth. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:18.880 So I know I'm going to catch heat, but you know what? 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:27.440 Ernie Clement, he might be one of the guys that I trade if I can get

value for him, because uh I don't care how much people love him. 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:29.519 Um, does he help my club win? 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:36.000 Or is it bats taking away from the nine-on-one approach that we need as a ball club to win? 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:39.279 Are you gonna go to him and say we need you to change who you are? 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.480 No, you're not. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:57.279 Because when that happens, uh a guy like him, who clearly only cares about how many hits he gets, two for four, what's the score, uh you're never gonna get that guy to change because his whole identity is wrapped up in that. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.119 It's not about producing runs. 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:12.960 Because if he cared about being a run producer, if he cared about the quality of his at bats and grinding out A-Bs and the trickle-down effect that it has on everybody else in the lineup, he would have made the adjustment already. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:17.039 Because there's no doubt he has the talent to do it. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:20.240 He has the ability to do it physically. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:24.960 Mentally, though, I don't think he can stand being up there more than a minute and a half. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.079 I really don't. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.759 I think he wants it over quick. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.960 I think he's uncomfortable the more pitches he sees. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:35.759 He's just always been that guy who could just flail and get hits. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:42.079 But the problem is the rest of the lineup, they're modeling their at-bats after this guy because why? 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:43.119 He's popular. 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.880 He's the flavor of the month. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.799 He's the flavor of the month. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:52.559 And one thing you can count on in baseball players is they were gonna gravitate to what's popular right now. 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:56.160 And right now in Toronto, nobody more popular than Ernie Clement. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:58.319 So you see where I'm going with this? 00:26:58.559 --> 00:27:07.359 Um, you know, great guy, great skills, but uh might not be the right guy for people to be modeling their bats after. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:18.880 The Jays, they're they're they're fading fast, and you gotta ask yourself, how much longer before they wave the proverbial white flag? 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.319 They're in last place. 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:25.759 Uh, unless they got to run like the Red Sox have made, win 10 in a row to get back in this thing. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:28.000 Uh it's all over, but they're crying. 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:30.559 Uh problem is the business side of it. 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:36.960 The Jays fans clearly not happy with the way their team's playing, uh, but they continue to show up at Skydome. 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:41.839 Trading a major player will signal defeat, and it may affect attendance. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:43.200 It's a business, after all. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:52.799 They need to see the big picture here, though, and do what's right for the club's future, and they need to trade all of those dudes for as much value as they can get. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:55.680 Um I guarantee they have a plan. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:57.279 I just hope it's the right one. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:28:01.599 But uh addressing their offensive identity has to be number one on the list. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:10.319 Do they bring in a new voice as hitting coach and give him like-minded players who can score in more ways than one? 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:16.559 Because right now their only chance to score runs is to string a ton of hits together and they're not doing it. 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:18.160 Um, that's a tough way to live. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:26.559 You gotta have a couple guys in the lineup that can hit that two, three-run jack, get you back into a ball game, or blow one wide open. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:28.079 They don't have it. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:33.920 Uh you know, the simple answer to part two is absolutely, they need to shake things up. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:38.640 They need to mix, they need a mix of on-base guys and power guys. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:42.000 Speed always helps, especially if you got speed and power. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:44.960 Um, it creates opportunities for everyone. 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:47.839 Uh, it really helps when the speed comes with power. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:54.799 As I said, um, yeah, it's a tough guy to find, but you know, they they got to try to do something. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:29:05.359 Um, they need a clearly communicated measure of expectations so players understand what they need to do, how to approach the game the Blue Jay way. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:13.680 Uh, and that's where your hitting coach, your philosophy has to be, you know, up front, out in everybody's face. 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.960 This is how we do things here. 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.480 This is what we want to do. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:21.599 Because you can't leave it to the players, they're gonna gravitate towards what popular. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:29.119 Uh, and for some reason, undisciplined hacking and selfish at bats have become popular in the Toronto Blue Jays Clubhouse. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:34.960 Um, you know, the the the idea of power, it's intoxicating for most players. 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:39.359 I mean, yeah, let's be honest: juice balls, juice bats, joke ballparks. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:44.640 I mean, the average home run output for somebody with 600 plate appearances is 20 now. 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.920 A joke. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:30:01.200 I mean, but if you have to sacrifice on base percentage to achieve power, and you're not a legit power guy, and I'm talking about in today's game, if you're not hitting 30, you don't have legit power. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:05.920 Um, you're

trying to do something that's out of your depth, and that only hurts the club. 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:08.160 You either have pop or you don't. 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.680 You can run or you can't. 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.720 Stay in your lane. 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:12.079 Do your job. 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:16.319 I mean, the front office's job is to build a well-rounded roster. 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:19.599 The manager's supposed to put guys in a position to be successful. 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:23.599 Can't keep asking guys for results that they're not capable of sustaining. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:28.240 You know, and you know, minus the injuries, I really think, you know, the major theme all year. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:33.359 The Jays were expected to repeat, but what they did last year was smoke and mirrors. 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:38.799 It's the same personnel, but the league adjusted and they can't they can't adjust back. 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:40.000 Plain and simple. 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:42.160 They just haven't been able to do it. 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:48.720 You know, in other words, they they were trying to recreate results that they couldn't sustain. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:54.319 They they couldn't sustain them because they they flat out weren't capable. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:31:00.960 You had a ton of guys get hot all at the same time last year. 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:19.279 You know, they ride the wave of emotion into the World Series and all the way to game seven, you know, the Dodgers played poorly the entire series until it came down to fundamentals, put balls in play, make pitches when you have to. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:25.759 And it it became obvious to everyone who the world champion was. 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:36.720 Because even though, like the 97 Marlins team that I was uh a member of, they played poorly, and yet they still won. 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:42.240 We played poorly in the World Series every other game, basically. 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:44.880 We won games one, three, five, and seven. 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:46.480 We found a way. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:48.240 Uh, but we played poorly. 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:54.400 We we played our worst baseball, in my opinion, in the World Series, and we still outlasted a pretty good team. 00:31:54.559 --> 00:32:03.119 In fact, I would say the Cleveland Indians of the 1997 season were a better team than the Toronto Blue Jays of 2025. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:05.440 Uh and we still outlasted them. 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:14.640 And that's what happens when a ball club is constructed the way it was, when the Dodgers are constructed the way they are. 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:16.880 They've got so many weapons. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:20.160 Right now, the Jays don't have weapons. 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.200 They don't. 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:23.519 They flat out don't have weapons. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:27.039 And good teams can beat you in multiple ways. 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:32.160 Some nights they might go out there and shove and out and just absolutely shut down your offense. 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:34.880 The other nights they might bludgeon you to death. 00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:49.440 And that's where the Jays need to wake up and start to figure out how do we put together a roster of guys who can beat you in different ways? 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:55.359 How do we create a culture of nine-on-one approach at the plate? 00:32:56.559 --> 00:33:02.720 And how do we build a culture of here's the ball, go start this game and finish it? 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:07.200 If you need help in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, we'll come get you. 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:10.480 But you're expected to go six minimum. 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:12.799 Not five, six. 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:15.440 And in my opinion, six plus. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:22.720 A bad night for Dylan Sees should be six and two-thirds. 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.400 Plain and simple. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:29.519 Savage is growing, he's gonna need to make adjustments because the league's adjusted to him. 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:36.079 But when you get a kid like that in your rotation, and in my opinion, he's a four-starter. 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:38.720 He's a number four starter on a good team. 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:41.920 You're happy to get six out of that guy. 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:51.839 But your$30 million ace,$30 million top of the rotation guy, you should be able to count on him for almost seven innings every night. 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:54.480 You know, there's gonna be nights when he gives up three or four. 00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.680 Okay, cool. 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:58.640 And hopefully you got the offense that can pick him up. 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:02.720 But, you know, six should be a bad night. 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:06.160 That's just grind bare minimum. 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:10.000 We we've got to set the bar a little higher in that situation. 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:14.639 You know, he he he's a Cy Young award contender right now. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.400 The Jays have protected him. 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:22.960 They've pulled him out of games and kept his ERA artificially low, in my opinion. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:24.239 Artificially low. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:25.760 The stuff's unbelievable. 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:32.400 The guy's just he should be unhittable most of the time, but it's not happening. 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:34.639 Still love him at the top of the rotation. 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:37.360 I think the guy, I think the guy's special. 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.239 Oh my god. 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:39.199 He's he's special. 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:40.400 Everybody knows it. 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:45.280 Uh, but going back to the rest of the roster, they need a few more special individuals. 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:49.679 This this whole thing with with Vladdy Jr., it's a complete anomaly. 00:34:49.920 --> 00:35:06.719 Um,

again, I said he's untouchable, but you know, I think the Jays need to wrap their brains around the idea of moving some guys like Ernie Clement and getting what they can for him uh while he's at the pinnacle of his his popularity and and his value. 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:16.960 Uh we are moving on into some major league baseball news, and I don't know, tops of the list in my mind is the Red Sox. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.719 Holy smokes. 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:22.239 Leading off the latest MLB news. 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:26.639 Be the first to admit when I'm blown away, surprised. 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:40.400 I can't I can't even tell you how surprising it is that the Red Sox are 30 and 17 under Chad Tracy as the interim manager, 14-game winning streak. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:42.559 It helps big time. 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:52.800 Um Caleb Durbin, Anthony Siegler, Sung Che Chang, uh just absolutely playing amazing. 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:54.159 It's crazy. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:36:10.800 Uh late inning heroics, uh, looks like they've completely changed the culture, probably saving Craig Breslow's job, even though I'm not even 100% sure he's shooting still go. 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:16.559 Uh, but the defense and the relief pitching have been really good. 00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:19.920 Um Peyton Tolley's been incredible. 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:37.760 Uh the shortstop Chang uh just athletic, doing great things, and probably the best closer in the game right now, who in my mind was one of the main guys that teams were looking at at Roll this Chapman. 00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:39.119 Now what? 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:42.719 You can't trade that guy now, you're in it. 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:46.320 And the the Red Sox are unbelievable. 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:54.400 They they are in third place behind the Yankees and nipping at heels, and it's incredible. 00:36:54.719 --> 00:37:00.000 Um moving on into some sad news, uh, but expected. 00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:08.000 Uh Major League Baseball finds itself embroiled in another gambling scandal. 00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:10.719 Uh, did anybody else see this coming? 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:17.679 I mean, absolutely inevitable the problems that this is gonna bring and continue to bring. 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:20.079 Wait till they open the doors in Vegas. 00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:22.719 Baseball players, they're they're human beings. 00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:25.119 They're not immune to the lure of the action. 00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:26.880 I mean, we're competitors. 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:33.280 We we love to have something writing on everything we do. 00:37:33.440 --> 00:38:06.559 I mean, Michael Jordan, I mean, there's all kinds of rumors and you know, stories about how you know he was into Vegas books for millions, and you know, the NBA told him to walk away because they were worried about the credibility of the game, the the stain on the NBA, and so he walked allegedly walked away from the game uh uh to go play baseball

and then came back a few years later. 00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:17.119 But, you know, the the Cleveland Guardians, Emmanuel Classe, Louis Ortiz, they were hit with federal indictments um by the U.S. 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:18.880 Attorney's Office. 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:24.960 Oh, I'll tell you what, at least Major League Baseball learned their lesson with the whole throw Pete Rose under the bus. 00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:34.239 They already swept the Shohei Otani gambling uh situation under the rug uh by throwing Ipe, uh the interpreter, under the bus. 00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:35.360 Give me a break. 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:42.719 Like he like Shohei didn't have something to do with you know a$16 million gambling tag uh tab, whatever. 00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:46.159 Uh, but at least they didn't, you know, ruin the game. 00:38:46.239 --> 00:38:56.159 And there no, there's no way Major League Baseball could have survived losing Shohei Otani to gambling uh suspensions. 00:38:56.320 --> 00:38:59.440 The Asian market would have absolutely collapsed. 00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:01.039 And let's be honest, gang. 00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:06.239 There's gambling and baseball, legalized gambling and baseball now because of money. 00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:07.360 Money. 00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:09.440 Just look at Asian market alone. 00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:16.960 The WBC media valuation, the international streaming absolutely spiked. 00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:32.800 Netflix Netflix paid 15 billion yen for the rights to the world baseball classic in Japan alone, representing a five-fold surge, rights bundling. 00:39:33.039 --> 00:40:09.360 Major League Baseball leadership expected to bundle or expected to bundle uh domestic and international TV rights, massive, massive deals in Japan and South Korea, franchise windfalls of the Dodgers, like the White Sox, the Astros, they got these Asian players, uh Otani, Yoshinobu, uh Yamamoto, uh the merchandising, the retail growth, 170% year-over increase in major league baseball merchandise sales in Japan, and most of its Otani-related gear. 00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:14.480 Up 57% over last year after they won the World Series. 00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:19.119 Tops, trading cards used to be the thing, dead. 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:24.960 Now, eight-figure annual business selling collectibles in in Japan. 00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:29.840 The trading market is generating nine figures in in Japan. 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:33.599 Um it's insane, and it's everywhere. 00:40:33.760 --> 00:40:35.599 The gambling is everywhere. 00:40:35.840 --> 00:40:42.400 So you think they're gonna throw the boy under the bus, the golden boy, uh, arguably one of the best players in the history of the game. 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:44.239 They're not throwing him under the bus. 00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:46.559 But we we've got a major problem here. 00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:55.679 I mean, there are five clubs who have sportsbooks within walking distance of the ballpark. 00:40:55.840 -->

00:41:15.440 The Washington Nationals, they've got Bet MGM, Arizona Diamondbacks got Caesars, Chicago Cubs have DraftKings, Cleveland Indians, no shocker, fanatics sportsbook right around the corner from the ballpark, Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Small Park, uh, the the Bet MGM Sportsbook at the banks. 00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:17.920 So, and I don't see a problem. 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:20.320 I mean, I don't have a problem with gambling. 00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:21.440 It's not the devil. 00:41:21.679 --> 00:41:29.440 It makes money for the game, and it offers a whole new dimension for fans that normally wouldn't be interested in baseball. 00:41:29.840 --> 00:41:35.599 Players, on the other hand, they need to insulate themselves more from the public and make better choices. 00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:38.559 It's on them, it's literally on them. 00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:41.760 Um, because somebody's always watching. 00:41:42.079 --> 00:41:45.920 So I think the answer might be to eliminate certain types of bets. 00:41:46.320 --> 00:41:50.639 No one should be able to bet on singular pitches at bats or plays. 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:59.280 I mean, let's be honest, ABS was added to the game to offer tangible oversight to umpire performances because of gambling. 00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:01.679 Don't let anybody try to convince you otherwise. 00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:03.679 It's all about gambling. 00:42:04.079 --> 00:42:10.719 Eliminate the ability to bet on individual moments, and you will eliminate the opportunity for impropriety. 00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:12.320 Plain and simple. 00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:18.320 So we've got great story in the Red Sox, we've got not so great story in the gambling. 00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:19.840 I know I missed a bunch of names. 00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:22.079 There's some other guys that have been suspended. 00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:33.199 Uh, one lifetime ban was handed down recently for a player gambling on a game that he actually performed in, uh, which is definitely a no-no. 00:42:33.360 --> 00:42:38.079 The rules posted right on the right on the wall as you walk into every major league clubhouse. 00:42:38.320 --> 00:42:41.199 Um but kind of a coincidence, P. 00:42:41.360 --> 00:42:45.039 Rhodes is gonna get into the Hall of Fame and we've got legalized gambling in baseball. 00:42:45.119 --> 00:42:46.800 And again, I don't think it's the devil. 00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:49.119 I just think players need to make better choices. 00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:50.719 Plain and simple. 00:42:51.119 --> 00:42:56.079 When we come back on walk-off slams, you're gonna get my Sunday roast. 00:42:57.679 --> 00:43:01.119 And now, the Sunday roast with grades on. 00:43:02.480 --> 00:43:04.639 Can anyone define a Czech swing for me? 00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:10.480 Major League Baseball can't seem to decide, and there's no official rule that defines what constitutes a swing. 00:43:10.719 --> 00:43:12.320 College baseball has tried. 00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:16.239 Their definition says it's when the barrel head passes the batter's front. 00:43:16.480 --> 00:43:17.760 That's just not enough. 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:22.880 I've seen guys hit balls over the infield for base hits, and the barrel never passed their front leg. 00:43:23.119 --> 00:43:26.239 Then we come to was their intent to strike the baseball. 00:43:26.400 --> 00:43:26.960 Who knows? 00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:28.320 Can you read minds? 00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:32.480 I can't with 100% certainty, and neither can a major league umpire. 00:43:32.639 --> 00:43:39.840 They open Pandora's box by bringing instant replay and ABS into the game, and they still can't get the calls right 100% of the time. 00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:43.519 There's still a little thing called the human element at play that gets in the way. 00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:47.599 Now they want to employ smartphones to measure what constitutes a swing. 00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:53.440 The first thing they need to do is define what the minimum requirement for an attempt to bat a ball is. 00:43:53.679 --> 00:43:55.039 So what does it look like? 00:43:55.280 --> 00:43:57.840 Let's start with clearly defining the hitting area. 00:43:58.079 --> 00:44:08.000 In my opinion, the hitting area measures from the inside of the back foot to give or take about two and a half feet in front of home plate, which allows for the full extension of the 33-inch bat. 00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:11.360 Now that we have that cleared up, we need to be able to measure in 10. 00:44:11.760 --> 00:44:17.039 Hitters can achieve exit velocities north of 90 miles an hour without ever breaking their wrists. 00:44:17.119 --> 00:44:18.960 So I'll throw that one out the window. 00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:24.480 I can say with 100% certainty if the barrel travels in front of the hands, it was a swing. 00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:32.400 If the hands or the barrel travel beyond the center line of the body, contact could be made, and therefore that constitutes a swing. 00:44:32.559 --> 00:44:34.000 How does that sound to you? 00:44:34.239 --> 00:44:42.639 We define the hitting area, we've defined a couple visible cues that constitute the ability to bat the ball in play, and we've eliminated the need for clairvoyance. 00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:51.440 My points go well beyond the collegiate definition of a swing, which falls miserably short of a proper one, thus giving the game a better idea of a swing. 00:44:51.679 --> 00:44:53.599 You want to use instant replay to measure it? 00:44:53.760 --> 00:44:55.760 I say unnecessary, but okay. 00:44:56.000 --> 00:45:02.079 Umpires don't have the same level of hand-eye coordination as players, otherwise, they'd be wearing different uniforms. 00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:08.559 If you want to use replay, there has to be more than one perimeter, like the college rule, and multiple boxes need to be checked. 00:45:08.800 --> 00:45:11.920 Did the athletic move occur in the clearly defined hitting area?

00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:12.559 Check. 00:45:12.800 --> 00:45:16.000 Did the hands or barrel travel beyond the batter's centerline? 00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:16.800 Check. 00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:18.239 Done like dinner. 00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:24.320 I can't help but think that Major League Baseball is somehow deeper in with legalized gambling than they let on. 00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:29.679 Every new measure is designed to provide tangible oversight for umpire decisions and pivotal moments. 00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:30.159 Why? 00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:32.159 So gamblers don't feel cheated? 00:45:32.400 --> 00:45:38.320 Every new measure eliminates the human element from the game played and officiated by human beings. 00:45:38.480 --> 00:45:40.239 Is there something they aren't telling us? 00:45:40.400 --> 00:45:42.320 Are they worried umpires are crooked? 00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:45.920 Are they worried Major League Baseball officiating will look like the NFL? 00:45:46.079 --> 00:45:49.440 Obviously skewed towards certain teams and certain players? 00:45:49.679 --> 00:45:51.199 Should I go to the tapes? 00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:52.480 Which ones, you ask? 00:45:52.719 --> 00:45:54.320 Maybe the old ones from New England. 00:45:54.480 --> 00:45:56.000 Or the new ones from Kansas City. 00:45:56.239 --> 00:45:56.880 You pick. 00:45:57.119 --> 00:46:00.320 I say, let them say, let them say. 00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:02.159 Make umpires great again. 00:46:02.400 --> 00:46:05.679 They used to be colorful and add value to America's pastime. 00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:11.679 Now they're being embarrassed in front of millions of people on a daily basis by machines and the people that bought them. 00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:13.039 The game is not better. 00:46:13.199 --> 00:46:16.800 It lacks context and is becoming homogenized at warp speed. 00:46:16.960 --> 00:46:18.559 There's no personality anymore. 00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:20.239 I really miss Joe West. 00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:24.719 I miss Kenny Kaiser and the gentleman umpires, Tim Cheetah and Jimmy Joyce. 00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:35.840 Adding check swings to the laundry list of decisions being made by man and machine is another bad idea from a group whose job only seems to be inventing one bad idea after another. 00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:43.599 I used to beg Major League Baseball for umpire oversight, but as is the case in life, be careful what you wish for, it may just come true. 00:46:43.840 --> 00:46:46.880 The pendulum has swung way too far to the tech side. 00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:50.079 Isn't there a healthy spot in the middle we can all be happy with? 00:46:50.239 --> 00:46:53.199 A place where players play and officials officiate? 00:46:53.360 --> 00:46:55.760 Let's leave the machines out of it for the most part. 00:46:55.920 --> 00:46:57.440 It's too techy already. 00:46:57.679 --> 00:46:58.480 What's next? 00:46:58.719 --> 00:46:59.840 AI players? 00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:04.639 I heard China's selling AI girlfriends now, so we might not be that far off. 00:47:04.880 --> 00:47:05.840 It's Sunday. 00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:07.119 Can you smell that roast?