July 24, 2025 • 32 mins
On this week’s edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob discusses the upcoming Baseball Hall of Fame inductions of CC Sabathia and Ichiro Suzuki, and the future HOF case for Justin Verlander. Later, Milwaukee Brewers CF Blake Perkins swings by. Plus, a conversation with Cleveland Guardians broadcaster Tom Hamilton, and Rob's latest appearance on MLB Network.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
From the Burke Shears to the sound from wherever you
live in MLB America. This is Inside the Parker. You
give us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the
scoop on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of
Fame Voter number fifty seven. You have another hot take.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Will not not made the playoffs, so hate me the money,
Rob Parker.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Come on, I've been covering Major League Baseball for almost
forty years now, in New York, in Cincinnati, in Detroit,
in LA.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I love this game.
Speaker 5 (00:37):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I'm your host, Rob Parker, and we have a very
special Hall of Fame edition of Inside the Parker coming up.
We'll talk with Milwaukee Brewers center field of Blake Perkins.
Also Tom Hamilton, the longtime radio voice of the Eveland Guardians,
and he'll have a special weekend because he's inducted into
(01:04):
the Broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame this coming weekend.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
That plus foul a fair let's go.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Better up to lead off it's getting run.
Speaker 6 (01:15):
Up and keep him mind.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Rob's hot take on.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
The three biggest stories in Major League Baseball Number one.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
On Sunday, CC Sabbathia will be inducted into the Baseball
Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and it is deserving.
I did vote for CC Sabbathia first time on the ballot,
first time Hall of Famer, and totally deserves it. He
belongs to a very prestigious club. He had a great career,
(01:43):
of course with Cleveland and Milwaukee and the Yankees. Won
a World Series in two thousand and nine with the Yankees.
But he belongs to the three thousand strikeout club. They're
only twenty members and with his induction, fifteen of twenty
will be in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
The three others who aren't in yet.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Will be Clinton Kershaw, Justin Berlander, and Max Schurz are
all obviously who are still active but will be in
the Hall of Fame when they're retiring their career is over.
And then the only two who aren't in who have
reached the three thousand mark Roger Clemens, of course, you know,
steroid controversy, and Kurt Shilling, who just didn't make it in.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
Never wont to sign young.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
There's some other issues on why Kurt Shilling didn't get in,
but anyway, CC Sabathia Hall of Famer, know if ends
or buds.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
What a fantastic career. I remember two thousand and.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Nine when he was the ALCS MVP and pitch the
Yankees into the World Series and then of course they've
won in two thousand and nine.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Congratulations with CC Sabathia. He deserves the honor number two.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Each year Row Suzuki known as each year Row, of course,
is a Hall of Famer man.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
What a career he had in the big leagues.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
We know how great of a player he was in
Japan before he even showed up to.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
The United States.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
And I mean, I gotta look at my put my
glasses on and just read the stats if you question anything. Obviously,
Seattle Mariners from two thousand and one to twenty twelve,
the Yankees for a few years twenty twelve to twenty fourteen,
Marlins twenty fifteen to twenty seventeen, and then finished up
(03:32):
with the Marlins. With the Mariners, I should say, twenty eighteen,
twenty nineteen.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Here are the numbers. Are you ready? Ten time All Star.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
AL MVP and AL Rookie of the Year in the
same year two thousand and one.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
He won both he was a ten time winner as
far as Gold.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Glove, three times Silver Slugger, two time Al Batting champ,
Al Stolen based leader that was two thousand and one
is rookie year. Single season. He owns the Major League
record for hits in a single season ready one hundred
and sixty two games. He had two hundred and sixty
two hits. Unbelievable. Each year Rowd gets in one vote
(04:18):
short of being unanimous career batting average three to eleven,
three thousand, eighty nine career hits. I don't even know
what else to say other than he's a Hall of famers,
a great player defensively, offensively, did everything you could ask
the player to do. And one vote shy of being unanimous,
(04:41):
but that happens. It happened to Derek Jeter as well.
Only Mariano Rivera was unanimous. So each year Row is
in good company.
Speaker 7 (04:50):
With Derek Jeter and well worth the honor of being
a Hall of Famer. Number three Justin Berlander and we
already mentioned him. Yes, he's going to the Hall of Fame,
the San Francisco Giants right hander, but lets be honest,
there's no way he could have imagined that potentially his
(05:10):
last season could be this bad.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
In the big leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Verlander, of course, lost his first eight decisions of twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 8 (05:20):
On Wednesday, though, Justin Verlander earned his first win as
a San Francisco Giant in the game against the Atlanta Braves,
ending a sixteen game winless streak unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
The Giants won nine to three, with.
Speaker 8 (05:36):
Verlander pitching five innings allowing just one hit.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
The victory marked his two hundred and sixty third career
win in MLB.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Here comes the big interview.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Listen and learn which so good?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
All right, now, let's welcome into the podcast Blake Perkins,
the center fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers who is back
in action coming back Friday after that chin fracture.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
And Blake, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 9 (06:06):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
Man.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
Appreciate yep, appreciate you take me back in February.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I know it's paying for the BP and the broken
chin and all that.
Speaker 9 (06:15):
What happened.
Speaker 10 (06:18):
It's just another routine day early on in the year,
and I was facing my good friend Freddy. Just a
normal like foul ball off my leg and usually it
hurts so like it it hurt, but you know, I
didn't think anything too much of it originally, just trying
to treat it as any other.
Speaker 9 (06:40):
Time it would be. And then I would say, like after.
Speaker 10 (06:44):
A day or two of it, the pain just getting
worse and worse.
Speaker 9 (06:49):
I figured that something was a little bit off, but
there was no there's no fracture that shut up on
the imagery was like the next race.
Speaker 10 (06:56):
So just kind of treated it as like a contusion
and Drew's and eventually we were able to see that
it was a fracture, and it made.
Speaker 11 (07:05):
A lot of sense after all that withd all of
pain and everything life, and then as you rea and
get back you have a groin injury as well, when
you're like, okay, this is crazy.
Speaker 10 (07:17):
Just you know, it's I feel like it's pretty common
to have something pop up on the on the getting back.
Speaker 9 (07:24):
From the playing, and I was trying to do my
very best to not have that.
Speaker 10 (07:28):
Issue, but it came up, and luckily it wasn't as
bad as or it wasn't that bad. Pretty much just
a few days rest, and I haven't feeling pretty good
ever since.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I So let's talk about your return Friday night, first
time out.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
He just has to feel good. You know, I'm not
saying that you doubt yourself, but when you've been.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Injured and you've been around, you could start to see
the little slump and have to fight your way back.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Did it feel it feel good?
Speaker 12 (07:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (07:56):
I mean any hit of the big leagues feels good event,
And yeah, it was just cool to be back out there.
I think when you're gone for so long, the little
things like the every everyday stuff isn't as in your
face as this for these other guys that've been playing
all year.
Speaker 9 (08:13):
So I'm just kind of happy to be back. And yeah,
it feels great.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
I guess it's Blake Perkins center field to foot the
Milwaukee Brewers back.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
In action after a shin injury, And how tough was
it watching your team? And your team is good?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I mean, you know, to watch your team play, and
I guess it's easier if you're winning.
Speaker 9 (08:32):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 10 (08:33):
I mean the you know, they started off a little slow,
and I've been watching pretty much every game until I
got here, so it's been really nice to see them
kind of pick it.
Speaker 9 (08:43):
Up and some stuff go their way and.
Speaker 10 (08:45):
Some guys I kind of find their footing, like Durban
and Isaac collinstead of a pretty job.
Speaker 9 (08:51):
So it's been really cool to see those guys stuff up.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
And how about you? Last year, your first real full season,
played over one hundred and twenty games in center field.
What did you want to build on coming into this season?
Obviously was somewhat derailed and.
Speaker 10 (09:06):
Still well, you know, every year you can get a
little bit better at the defensive side, so they're working
on my first step times out there, and obviously the
biggest thing is all the offensive side, just being more comfortable,
being a little more.
Speaker 9 (09:21):
Aggressive at the player, trying to kick your strikeouts a
little bit. So that was kind of my plan in
the beginning.
Speaker 10 (09:28):
It's still part of the plan now, but you know,
with everything going on, I'm just trying to be up
and get out there.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
I said, yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Far as you said defensively, because let's be not we'll
be modest. You were a finalist for Gold Glove and
center Field Aproach four year at the big League and
CETU field every day when you heard the nomination.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
I know you didn't win it, but still, what was
that like? And did you think get a shot at it?
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
I mean, or if you made some plays last year?
Speaker 13 (09:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (09:54):
Yeah, kind of just an honor that I would be
in the running for it. In general, I think I
have the least amount of games played out of the
three of us, so I thought it was just a
privilege to be even in.
Speaker 9 (10:09):
The category be dominated.
Speaker 10 (10:11):
So that's pretty much like has only been my that's
been my only goal.
Speaker 9 (10:16):
Since growing up with a one goal glove.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
So what really that was it? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Why when did you know you were a superior field
goal And I'm gonna say superior because I think you
get you're win a goal glove. You gotta think you
know you can go get it, come over the fence,
all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 9 (10:33):
I'd say.
Speaker 10 (10:33):
In high school for sure, I felt like it came
pretty natural to me and I had all this confidence
in myself and I don't know, I just I wanted
to be the best at that. Like I knew that
that's what I.
Speaker 9 (10:49):
Could do, and it's just fun to show it and
have o people recognize that.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Hop out the wheels.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I though all people last year twenty re reast all
the bases to slow down on that right now or
you're one.
Speaker 9 (11:03):
Just gonna play a.
Speaker 10 (11:06):
Obviously, it's you know, situational trying to I'm not just
stealing bags to steal bags, but yeah, just filled off
of last year, I think'd be a little bit more aggressive,
especially still in a third base, kind of locking that
in a little bit last year.
Speaker 9 (11:21):
But in general, I'm I'm for.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
One last question the Brewers.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
You guys have really good regular season, the postings, and
that for.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Whatever reason, you guys haven't show that to the goal.
This team got enough to make.
Speaker 10 (11:37):
A postseason long Yeah, hundred percent. I mean when we
have like saying, poor guys are our leaders and they
instilling us out.
Speaker 9 (11:47):
That that uner so your team, you're there, and a
lot of us were.
Speaker 10 (11:51):
Satisfied about last year about the year before that. So yeah,
I think it's just getting over that first time. I
think that since it's kind of been the case the last.
Speaker 9 (12:02):
Few years, it's just like again last time. You know,
these guys we got the temasity to do that. I
think in the results.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Okay, Lake Perkins patrol is center field.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
But a Milwaukee Boards, you're back in action. Great to
have them and thanks for joining the podcast.
Speaker 9 (12:18):
Thank you sir much.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
In case you missed Rob Parker on the MLB networks,
here's his latest appearance on Mlbina.
Speaker 14 (12:32):
Showdown time. Our good friend Rob Parker is with us. Rob,
Brian Kenny here. Great to have you back on.
Speaker 6 (12:36):
The show always Bka, how are you excellent?
Speaker 14 (12:40):
We had a lot to get to, including Hall of
Fame induction weekend this weekend. I know you're excited. I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
I want to start with this.
Speaker 14 (12:46):
Allow me, because I know you're against this. We did
this I think last time or the time before. Allow
me to sell you on the challenge system for balls
and strikes, which I believe is coming next year. All right,
Exhibit A Mets and Angels yesterday, Luis Renhifo the home
played unpire. By the way, is Eric Beckis. Now look
at that win, diez miss? We think miss three times
(13:08):
on this these all I'm gonna say might be strikes.
And now Renhifo is upset. Angels in the dugout. They
were getting thrown out of the ball game because they
were losing their minds. And you know what, I don't
even know if that box is one hundred percent correct, Rob, Like,
I'm not even saying that he blew all three calls
because they're all in the same spot. It looks like
he missed all three, but instead of beefing about it.
(13:28):
You can just challenge and challenge that, and you can
challenge all three because if you win your challenge, you
keep your challenge.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
What's wrong with that?
Speaker 12 (13:35):
Do we really want to sit there all day and
have every pitch challenged or up to where everything is?
Is a question? And I get it. Those were bad pitches.
They all looked out at the strike zone. You're gonna
have those moments, but b K, I'm gonna put you
on the spot. Should should Greg Maddox now be taking
(13:56):
out of the Hall of Fame?
Speaker 6 (13:57):
But we go back? Oh no, no, but that can change.
Speaker 14 (14:01):
That can change.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
And Jimmy kay right.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
I know in the all back.
Speaker 14 (14:05):
Back in the nineties they made up their own strikes.
So but we're not there now. But that would fix
that if they I believe, if they did that to
the home point umpire on the first call and they
were right, he'd have to think, all right, this, what
I think is a strike is not. I got to
tighten up my zone a little bit.
Speaker 6 (14:19):
No, But here's the issue is that when they do the.
Speaker 12 (14:22):
Gratings for most umpires, nobody's one hundred percent, but most guys,
most guys are in very workable and satisfactory.
Speaker 6 (14:33):
Yes, this shit.
Speaker 14 (14:33):
Yes, but let's say that umpire again, it was Eric Bachus.
Let's say he's perfect, but right there, he misses three,
like three within a short period of time in one AB.
You could fix it with the challenge. I don't want
to nitpick every call. You're right, I don't to play
lawyer ball, but you can say, hey, look, instead of
complaining and getting thrown out and screaming at guy's Aaron
Boone got thrown out yesterday too, instead of screamings, hey,
(14:56):
challenge it and maybe you're wrong. Maybe they're wrong on
that too. Maybe when we see the real strike zone,
not just the one that we see on TV, maybe
he was right, and then we'll know.
Speaker 6 (15:05):
Okay, where's the punishment if you're wrong? There should be a.
Speaker 14 (15:08):
Punishment eventually eventually, No, if you have an umpire that's
still missing. Yeah, all right, let me ask you, where's
the punishment out on the basis? Rob they fix these
calls on the basis all the time? Do we see
guys getting punished? Now, you miss a call, it happens,
we move on, let's go. You will be fine. It's
fine right now with replay out on the basis.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Yeah, I just I.
Speaker 12 (15:28):
Just don't want I don't think that it impacts the
game as much as people make it out to.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
I don't remember that many games where I go.
Speaker 12 (15:35):
And I lament over oh my god, when they're bad calls,
I'll say, with my buddy's at the bar, the umpire
needs glasses, that was a terrible call.
Speaker 6 (15:43):
Whatever, and we move on to the next game. That's all.
Speaker 14 (15:47):
You know, largely I agree with you, But today I
believe the Yankees, the Diamondbacks, and the Angels would disagree
with you from games yesterday. Yesterday, Rob, that's it, okay,
Juan Soto, here's another thing you one soso thing.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I thought it was hilarious.
Speaker 14 (16:03):
You have to admit that's over, right.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
No, what do you mean?
Speaker 6 (16:06):
Is it over? No, it's not over. Have you looked
at his recent numbers. He's one of the.
Speaker 14 (16:12):
Top ten hitters in the game.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
He's one of the top ten.
Speaker 14 (16:15):
Got be fair, he's one of the top ten hitters
in the game.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
Be fair a little bit.
Speaker 6 (16:21):
One hit in his last sixteen at bats. Go look
at he got one multiple one multiple hit.
Speaker 12 (16:29):
Game in his last like fourteen games. He's been in
two fifty three. It's August almost August. All I'm saying
is he's been the biggest disappointment. You can look at
some of the other numbers, but if you honestly look
at Juan Soto.
Speaker 6 (16:44):
From last year in pinstripes and this year in the
Orange and blue, and it's better. Last year he was
the best, same player, it's better.
Speaker 14 (16:51):
I'll give you that. But again, I give you credit.
You're going after the Brewers when they're winning. You're going
to after Soto when he's in the top ten and
he's play well, get I give you credit. You don't
punch down, you punch up. I like that Hall of
Fame induction weekend. I want to get this in. You
run MLB bro focusing on the black ball player.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
This is a big weekend for that.
Speaker 14 (17:09):
Dick Allen, Dave Parker inducted posthumously. Give me their importance
to Black baseball, the players, the community.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
Well in Dave Parker, the Cobra, what he stood for.
Speaker 12 (17:21):
As far as he was one of those guys that
people remember. He had an awesome presence, unbelievable moments, you know.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
The All Star Game, to throw big home runs. We
are family team. You remember that team was filled.
Speaker 12 (17:40):
With black and Hispanic players that we are family team
that won the World Series, and he was a big
part of it. He was black through and through, and
people are in the black community really connected with him.
So Dave Parker is a big figure and had an
awesome nickname the Cobra.
Speaker 14 (17:57):
And Dick Allen goes back earlier seeing real racism, I
mean back in the day, and then again got a
bad reputation and fought with management. But you know what,
the guy was a not just a great hitter, he
was a great base runner. So he must have been
busting it somewhere. If you read the reports from the
days you think he's just laying around smoking cigarettes all
the time, he must have been running at some point,
(18:18):
because this record says otherwise. He's largely regarded as the
best player not in the Hall of Fame. I think
this rights are wrong.
Speaker 12 (18:27):
Yeah, I agree with you from the standpoint that his
numbers speak for hisself. But there was a malaise about
him and a conversation about him. Maybe he didn't was
able to make everybody feel good around him.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
I guess it's the term I'm trying to say.
Speaker 12 (18:42):
But sometimes everybody's not going to be on that level
or everybody doesn't have the same personality, but you still
could respect the.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Job that he did and the numbers that.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
He put up.
Speaker 12 (18:52):
And he'll go into the Hall of Fame. Two more
black players deserving. So it's a good thing for baseball,
and sometimes you got to right stuff.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
You know.
Speaker 14 (19:01):
For his ten year peak, we're talking ten years, not
just speak, we're talking ten years. He had the second
best ops plus in the game. Hank Aaron was number one,
Dick Allen number two. It was a low run scoring
era when he was playing, playing through the sixties, so
like some of his numbers don't look as bombastic as
the Rockies in two thousand and two, but like he
was hitting a ton. Rob, great having you back on
(19:23):
the show. Thank you so much. I'll be thinking of
you in Cooperstown, all.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
Right, BK enjoy it, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto,
if I'm writing, I'm ripping, Let's bring in a writer
or broadcaster, old or new.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
Now let's welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Tom Hamilton, the Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardians.
Well this weekend in July, you will be inducted the
Fort's See Frick Award for Broadcasters. Tom, congratulations and I'm
really thrilled for you.
Speaker 15 (19:58):
Well, thank you. It's still very surreal, it's humbling. Were grateful,
and I say we because you know, without a great wife,
none of this becomes possible. So I still can't believe
it's occurred. But now we're your knee deep into the season,
so that's kind of your focus. But July will be fun.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Let me ask you your love for baseball? Where did
that start? Tom? And when did you realize you loved
the game.
Speaker 15 (20:29):
Well, you know, we were dairy farmers about half an
hour outside of Madison, Wisconsin, and like so many people
back then, you know, dairy farms were one hundred and
fifty acres and your mom and dad milk fifty cows.
I was never old enough to milk. My parents eventually
sold the farm and we moved into a small town
(20:51):
five minutes away when I was thirteen. But for me,
really it was you know, and I'm dating myself, but
you know, those were the Milwaukee Braves in the you know,
mid sixties early sixties of Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews.
And Warren Spahn and Lou Burdette and Joe Tory, and
I was too young when they went to back to
(21:13):
back World Series and fifty seven and fifty eight. But
for me to listen, you know, on the porch on
a transistor radio, which I know nobody knows what that
is anymore.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Believe it or not.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
I used to listen to a transistort radio listening to
Mets games as a kid in New York.
Speaker 15 (21:30):
When you're you know, out on a farm, your closest
neighbor maybe a half a mile away, so you're not
getting together with kids around the block and playing that.
That was my entertainment. That's where my love came for it.
Like everybody else, I wanted to play it at that
major league level, but learned early in life I better
have a backup plan.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
And you, boy, what a great backup plan you did
pick and talk about when you got the job in Cleveland,
I mean thirty five year row as the voice of
the Guardians and your first game, do you remember, Ray? Yeah,
let me how you get the job first?
Speaker 15 (22:11):
Well, my wife and I were expecting our first child.
I was in Columbus at the time and was able
to do a couple of innings of home games with
Terry Smith, the longtime voice of the Los Angeles Angels.
Terry was gracious enough to let me sit in with
him during home games. The keyword there for the radio
(22:31):
station was I volunteered long as you didn't ask for money.
Oh yeah, you bet, you can do it. And so
we were expecting our first child, Nicholas. In November of
nineteen eighty nine, I was part of the Ohio State
football broadcast, so that was all pretty encompassing. You're focused
on your first child. The job it opened, I hadn't applied.
(22:55):
The week of Christmas, we got a story out of
the Able and Playing Dealer back in those days. The
paper came to Columbus and saw they were down to
their final four. Kind of kicked myself for not applying,
because you know, you always feel like, wow, they're not
going to look at the number two guy, and put
(23:16):
together a resume and an audition tape after Mass on
Christmas morning because nobody was at the radio station, and
lucky enough they listened and from there eventually got hired
in January of nineteen nineties. So sometimes I think it's
a miracle that the job hadn't been filled by then,
and so I've been very fortunate.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
How about the first game, and just what do you
remember about it?
Speaker 15 (23:41):
Well, like so many times back then, we were in
a lockout slash strike. Spring training was abbreviated. We only
went to Tucson for a few weeks. Seasons started a
week later, and we were supposed to open up in
New York. Instead, the Yankees came to our place on
a week night. We got into the third or fourth inning,
(24:02):
rob and a blizzard came off Lake Arion ended that ballgame.
So it was kind of a welcome to Cleveland moment.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
Wow, that's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Our guest is Tom Hamilton, of course Hall of Soon
in the Hall of Fame, broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardians,
thirty five years on the mic on the radio. And
I say this with all sincerity because I've listened to you.
You know, I worked in Detroit for a long time.
But your voice outstanding, just just great to hear baseball.
And I'm the biggest baseball fan going, so I really
(24:34):
appreciate guys who do baseball on the radio. On one
of your calls, You've had a number of great calls,
but a lot of people will remember, of course, was
the fight between Jose Ramus and of course Tim Anderson.
Just take us to that because it was it was
you know, you went viral with your call on that.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
How where did that come from? Was that your inner
Howard Cosell?
Speaker 15 (24:59):
You know what I think you You are a product
of your generation, you know. And when I was growing
up in the sixties, you know again, you know, Howard
Cosell was the biggest thing on television and ABC, wild
World of Sports and Olympic boxing was such a big thing,
and you know that it's just so different than it
is sixty years later. But you know, I think anybody
(25:23):
that was a fight fan remembers smoking Joe Frasier, Muhammad
Ali and George Foremant. Why that popped up rob at
that time, I have no idea. It's just it's a
spontan eighty thing. You never do a baseball game, going, boy,
I can't wait to become a boxer. Here in the
(25:43):
sixth inning, it was so out of left field. It
was so unpredictable, so unexpected. And again I'm not trying
to get religious on people, because a lot of people
aren't religious, but I really feel like the Good Lord
put the right words in my mouth at the right time.
If people thought it wasn't planned, how did it come out?
Speaker 4 (26:03):
I don't know.
Speaker 15 (26:04):
And again, if you start thinking about what you said
and what you're going to say, I think you lose
your spontaneity. And I got lucky.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
That's all again. Congratulations to Tom Hamilton.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
This weekend, he'll be inducted into the Baseball Hall of
Fame in Cooper's town.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
The Ford C.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Frick Award, a deserving honor to an outstanding young man.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
You rap good to be with you, buddy, always, always
thank you.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Here's the best from mlbbro dot com.
Speaker 6 (26:36):
Yo it up, It's great.
Speaker 13 (26:37):
Here's what top is today onbro dot com. What a
run has been Tampa Bay Ray's rookie centerfielder Taylor Simpsons,
who saw our thirteen game history ended and it seems
probably lost to the hands of the Baltimore was on Sunday.
Simpson will send down to the minor leagues and end
of May. But since being caught up on June twenty fourth,
he's a recorder of a hit in all but three
of the twenty one games that he's played in during
your thirteen game history. Simps the recorded a total of
(26:59):
eighteen hits, three doubles. The rookie started his career with
an eight game history and it has been a concert
in the Raised line up during the time in the
Big leagues. Simpson is a third on the bats pass
as well, with Tony's having stolen backs on the year.
As the second half begins, is here the young bro
can help the race sneak into the playoffs. Nelson's popping
today on MLB bro dot com.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
For more right now, go to MLB brow dot com.
Left Ball, it was a big week in the Big Leagues.
Speaker 10 (27:27):
Who's Who's a five?
Speaker 9 (27:29):
Don't believe?
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Is it foul? Or is it fair? And now from
mlbdbro dot com here's jrgamball CC.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
Sabbath there becomes the third black pitcher in Major League
history to make it to the Hall of Fame?
Speaker 4 (27:48):
Jr. Is it foul or fair to say.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
That another black picture won't make it to the Hall
of Fame?
Speaker 16 (27:57):
Found the black aces every rare in the game of baseball.
Black pitchers who have won twenty games in a season
only fifteen of them. Black Hall of Fame pitchers are
even more rare. Come July twenty seven CC, Sabathia will
have accomplished both. The California Kid follows Fergie Jenkins bullet
(28:18):
Bob Gibson as just the third black starter in history
to make Cooper's Town. There were never a lot of
black pitchers, but we've had some great ones. Of course,
longevity is part of the equation. When starting pitchers rack
up enough stats to be considered Hall of Fame worthy,
they've usually had long careers. Pitchers in general don't pitch
(28:41):
deep enough into games anymore to win two hundred and
fifty one games over a career like CC. There are
black pitchers you can name that were Hall of Fame talents,
from JR. Richard to Dwight Gooden, but they didn't have
the longevity to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Currently,
Hunter Green has Hall of Fame talent, but his injuries
(29:05):
lead us to believe his career won't be long enough
to reach that plateau. There aren't many other black pictures
right now who are proving to be potential Hall of
Fame talents on the level of a paulse Games or
to reach Schoolbull Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and that's why
(29:25):
CEC said that he wants to find the next him.
Hall of Fame has won black closer too in Lee Smith,
so let's not forget that you don't have to be
a starting pitcher to make the Hall of Fame. But
with just four black pictures getting the honor, it's not
something that happens often, and it's something that, unfortunately, we
(29:47):
may never see again in our lifetime. There's no black
pictures today who have even made enough impact as starters
to be tabbed as next up, So no, we won't
see it happen maybe ever again for a really long time.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Make way for weekend wagers.
Speaker 6 (30:10):
Yo, it's shabou.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
Fire up those bed naps, let's go.
Speaker 17 (30:16):
Was a rough, rough week last week, another zero to
two week. Fifteen wins nineteen losses so far this season.
But let's get right man. We need a two and oh,
a two and oh, let's get that cracking on Friday
as the Dodgers, who just broke through their little slum,
take on the Red Sox and I'm loving the over
eight and a half total runs. I know y'all ain't
feeling the Dodgers, but you know the Red Sox will
(30:37):
pull through either way. Then on Saturday, Let's go two
and oh. Let's do it with the Stro Show, The
millanated Malmroder takes on his former team in the Phillies,
and I'm feeling good with the Yankees at home minus
one and a half on that home favorite, Let's go
two and oh with Sean bau inside the Parker.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Hi, I'm Ron Parker, the founder and editor of mlbbro dot.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Com, where we cover black.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
And brown major leaguers.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Seventy five percent of the content will be about the.
Speaker 8 (31:08):
Current black and brown stars in.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
The other twenty five percent will take a look back
at some of the great black players. On the site,
there will be a ton of great written stories and
videos and features.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
MLB bro because you need to know MLV fans. When
it comes to Major League Baseball baseball, no one covers
it better than the odd cover up fact. I am
the baseball kid, first, second, third, and we're leading shows
with baseball.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
They'll watch it.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
It'll again all in one place, right here on Fox
Sports Radio.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
I Love baseball.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time, until
next time, Rob park out.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
He can't get it.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
This could be an inside the Parker.
Speaker 6 (32:03):
See you next week, same bat time, same that station.
From the Burke Shears to the sound from wherever you
live in MLB America. This is Inside the Parker. You
give us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the
scoop on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of
Fame Voter number fifty seven. You have another hot take.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Will not not made the playoffs, so hate me the money,
Rob Parker.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Come on, I've been covering Major League Baseball for almost
forty years now, in New York, in Cincinnati, in Detroit,
in LA.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I love this game.
Speaker 5 (00:37):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I'm your host, Rob Parker, and we have a very
special Hall of Fame edition of Inside the Parker coming up.
We'll talk with Milwaukee Brewers center field of Blake Perkins.
Also Tom Hamilton, the longtime radio voice of the Eveland Guardians,
and he'll have a special weekend because he's inducted into
(01:04):
the Broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame this coming weekend.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
That plus foul a fair let's go.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Better up to lead off it's getting run.
Speaker 6 (01:15):
Up and keep him mind.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Rob's hot take on.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
The three biggest stories in Major League Baseball Number one.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
On Sunday, CC Sabbathia will be inducted into the Baseball
Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and it is deserving.
I did vote for CC Sabbathia first time on the ballot,
first time Hall of Famer, and totally deserves it. He
belongs to a very prestigious club. He had a great career,
(01:43):
of course with Cleveland and Milwaukee and the Yankees. Won
a World Series in two thousand and nine with the Yankees.
But he belongs to the three thousand strikeout club. They're
only twenty members and with his induction, fifteen of twenty
will be in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
The three others who aren't in yet.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Will be Clinton Kershaw, Justin Berlander, and Max Schurz are
all obviously who are still active but will be in
the Hall of Fame when they're retiring their career is over.
And then the only two who aren't in who have
reached the three thousand mark Roger Clemens, of course, you know,
steroid controversy, and Kurt Shilling, who just didn't make it in.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
Never wont to sign young.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
There's some other issues on why Kurt Shilling didn't get in,
but anyway, CC Sabathia Hall of Famer, know if ends
or buds.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
What a fantastic career. I remember two thousand and.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Nine when he was the ALCS MVP and pitch the
Yankees into the World Series and then of course they've
won in two thousand and nine.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Congratulations with CC Sabathia. He deserves the honor number two.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Each year Row Suzuki known as each year Row, of course,
is a Hall of Famer man.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
What a career he had in the big leagues.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
We know how great of a player he was in
Japan before he even showed up to.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
The United States.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
And I mean, I gotta look at my put my
glasses on and just read the stats if you question anything. Obviously,
Seattle Mariners from two thousand and one to twenty twelve,
the Yankees for a few years twenty twelve to twenty fourteen,
Marlins twenty fifteen to twenty seventeen, and then finished up
(03:32):
with the Marlins. With the Mariners, I should say, twenty eighteen,
twenty nineteen.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Here are the numbers. Are you ready? Ten time All Star.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
AL MVP and AL Rookie of the Year in the
same year two thousand and one.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
He won both he was a ten time winner as
far as Gold.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Glove, three times Silver Slugger, two time Al Batting champ,
Al Stolen based leader that was two thousand and one
is rookie year. Single season. He owns the Major League
record for hits in a single season ready one hundred
and sixty two games. He had two hundred and sixty
two hits. Unbelievable. Each year Rowd gets in one vote
(04:18):
short of being unanimous career batting average three to eleven,
three thousand, eighty nine career hits. I don't even know
what else to say other than he's a Hall of famers,
a great player defensively, offensively, did everything you could ask
the player to do. And one vote shy of being unanimous,
(04:41):
but that happens. It happened to Derek Jeter as well.
Only Mariano Rivera was unanimous. So each year Row is
in good company.
Speaker 7 (04:50):
With Derek Jeter and well worth the honor of being
a Hall of Famer. Number three Justin Berlander and we
already mentioned him. Yes, he's going to the Hall of Fame,
the San Francisco Giants right hander, but lets be honest,
there's no way he could have imagined that potentially his
(05:10):
last season could be this bad.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
In the big leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Verlander, of course, lost his first eight decisions of twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 8 (05:20):
On Wednesday, though, Justin Verlander earned his first win as
a San Francisco Giant in the game against the Atlanta Braves,
ending a sixteen game winless streak unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
The Giants won nine to three, with.
Speaker 8 (05:36):
Verlander pitching five innings allowing just one hit.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
The victory marked his two hundred and sixty third career
win in MLB.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Here comes the big interview.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Listen and learn which so good?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
All right, now, let's welcome into the podcast Blake Perkins,
the center fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers who is back
in action coming back Friday after that chin fracture.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
And Blake, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 9 (06:06):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
Man.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
Appreciate yep, appreciate you take me back in February.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I know it's paying for the BP and the broken
chin and all that.
Speaker 9 (06:15):
What happened.
Speaker 10 (06:18):
It's just another routine day early on in the year,
and I was facing my good friend Freddy. Just a
normal like foul ball off my leg and usually it
hurts so like it it hurt, but you know, I
didn't think anything too much of it originally, just trying
to treat it as any other.
Speaker 9 (06:40):
Time it would be. And then I would say, like after.
Speaker 10 (06:44):
A day or two of it, the pain just getting
worse and worse.
Speaker 9 (06:49):
I figured that something was a little bit off, but
there was no there's no fracture that shut up on
the imagery was like the next race.
Speaker 10 (06:56):
So just kind of treated it as like a contusion
and Drew's and eventually we were able to see that
it was a fracture, and it made.
Speaker 11 (07:05):
A lot of sense after all that withd all of
pain and everything life, and then as you rea and
get back you have a groin injury as well, when
you're like, okay, this is crazy.
Speaker 10 (07:17):
Just you know, it's I feel like it's pretty common
to have something pop up on the on the getting back.
Speaker 9 (07:24):
From the playing, and I was trying to do my
very best to not have that.
Speaker 10 (07:28):
Issue, but it came up, and luckily it wasn't as
bad as or it wasn't that bad. Pretty much just
a few days rest, and I haven't feeling pretty good
ever since.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I So let's talk about your return Friday night, first
time out.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
He just has to feel good. You know, I'm not
saying that you doubt yourself, but when you've been.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Injured and you've been around, you could start to see
the little slump and have to fight your way back.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Did it feel it feel good?
Speaker 12 (07:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (07:56):
I mean any hit of the big leagues feels good event,
And yeah, it was just cool to be back out there.
I think when you're gone for so long, the little
things like the every everyday stuff isn't as in your
face as this for these other guys that've been playing
all year.
Speaker 9 (08:13):
So I'm just kind of happy to be back. And yeah,
it feels great.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
I guess it's Blake Perkins center field to foot the
Milwaukee Brewers back.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
In action after a shin injury, And how tough was
it watching your team? And your team is good?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I mean, you know, to watch your team play, and
I guess it's easier if you're winning.
Speaker 9 (08:32):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 10 (08:33):
I mean the you know, they started off a little slow,
and I've been watching pretty much every game until I
got here, so it's been really nice to see them
kind of pick it.
Speaker 9 (08:43):
Up and some stuff go their way and.
Speaker 10 (08:45):
Some guys I kind of find their footing, like Durban
and Isaac collinstead of a pretty job.
Speaker 9 (08:51):
So it's been really cool to see those guys stuff up.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
And how about you? Last year, your first real full season,
played over one hundred and twenty games in center field.
What did you want to build on coming into this season?
Obviously was somewhat derailed and.
Speaker 10 (09:06):
Still well, you know, every year you can get a
little bit better at the defensive side, so they're working
on my first step times out there, and obviously the
biggest thing is all the offensive side, just being more comfortable,
being a little more.
Speaker 9 (09:21):
Aggressive at the player, trying to kick your strikeouts a
little bit. So that was kind of my plan in
the beginning.
Speaker 10 (09:28):
It's still part of the plan now, but you know,
with everything going on, I'm just trying to be up
and get out there.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
I said, yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Far as you said defensively, because let's be not we'll
be modest. You were a finalist for Gold Glove and
center Field Aproach four year at the big League and
CETU field every day when you heard the nomination.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
I know you didn't win it, but still, what was
that like? And did you think get a shot at it?
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
I mean, or if you made some plays last year?
Speaker 13 (09:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (09:54):
Yeah, kind of just an honor that I would be
in the running for it. In general, I think I
have the least amount of games played out of the
three of us, so I thought it was just a
privilege to be even in.
Speaker 9 (10:09):
The category be dominated.
Speaker 10 (10:11):
So that's pretty much like has only been my that's
been my only goal.
Speaker 9 (10:16):
Since growing up with a one goal glove.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
So what really that was it? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Why when did you know you were a superior field
goal And I'm gonna say superior because I think you
get you're win a goal glove. You gotta think you
know you can go get it, come over the fence,
all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 9 (10:33):
I'd say.
Speaker 10 (10:33):
In high school for sure, I felt like it came
pretty natural to me and I had all this confidence
in myself and I don't know, I just I wanted
to be the best at that. Like I knew that
that's what I.
Speaker 9 (10:49):
Could do, and it's just fun to show it and
have o people recognize that.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Hop out the wheels.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I though all people last year twenty re reast all
the bases to slow down on that right now or
you're one.
Speaker 9 (11:03):
Just gonna play a.
Speaker 10 (11:06):
Obviously, it's you know, situational trying to I'm not just
stealing bags to steal bags, but yeah, just filled off
of last year, I think'd be a little bit more aggressive,
especially still in a third base, kind of locking that
in a little bit last year.
Speaker 9 (11:21):
But in general, I'm I'm for.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
One last question the Brewers.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
You guys have really good regular season, the postings, and
that for.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Whatever reason, you guys haven't show that to the goal.
This team got enough to make.
Speaker 10 (11:37):
A postseason long Yeah, hundred percent. I mean when we
have like saying, poor guys are our leaders and they
instilling us out.
Speaker 9 (11:47):
That that uner so your team, you're there, and a
lot of us were.
Speaker 10 (11:51):
Satisfied about last year about the year before that. So yeah,
I think it's just getting over that first time. I
think that since it's kind of been the case the last.
Speaker 9 (12:02):
Few years, it's just like again last time. You know,
these guys we got the temasity to do that. I
think in the results.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Okay, Lake Perkins patrol is center field.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
But a Milwaukee Boards, you're back in action. Great to
have them and thanks for joining the podcast.
Speaker 9 (12:18):
Thank you sir much.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
In case you missed Rob Parker on the MLB networks,
here's his latest appearance on Mlbina.
Speaker 14 (12:32):
Showdown time. Our good friend Rob Parker is with us. Rob,
Brian Kenny here. Great to have you back on.
Speaker 6 (12:36):
The show always Bka, how are you excellent?
Speaker 14 (12:40):
We had a lot to get to, including Hall of
Fame induction weekend this weekend. I know you're excited. I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
I want to start with this.
Speaker 14 (12:46):
Allow me, because I know you're against this. We did
this I think last time or the time before. Allow
me to sell you on the challenge system for balls
and strikes, which I believe is coming next year. All right,
Exhibit A Mets and Angels yesterday, Luis Renhifo the home
played unpire. By the way, is Eric Beckis. Now look
at that win, diez miss? We think miss three times
(13:08):
on this these all I'm gonna say might be strikes.
And now Renhifo is upset. Angels in the dugout. They
were getting thrown out of the ball game because they
were losing their minds. And you know what, I don't
even know if that box is one hundred percent correct, Rob, Like,
I'm not even saying that he blew all three calls
because they're all in the same spot. It looks like
he missed all three, but instead of beefing about it.
(13:28):
You can just challenge and challenge that, and you can
challenge all three because if you win your challenge, you
keep your challenge.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
What's wrong with that?
Speaker 12 (13:35):
Do we really want to sit there all day and
have every pitch challenged or up to where everything is?
Is a question? And I get it. Those were bad pitches.
They all looked out at the strike zone. You're gonna
have those moments, but b K, I'm gonna put you
on the spot. Should should Greg Maddox now be taking
(13:56):
out of the Hall of Fame?
Speaker 6 (13:57):
But we go back? Oh no, no, but that can change.
Speaker 14 (14:01):
That can change.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
And Jimmy kay right.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
I know in the all back.
Speaker 14 (14:05):
Back in the nineties they made up their own strikes.
So but we're not there now. But that would fix
that if they I believe, if they did that to
the home point umpire on the first call and they
were right, he'd have to think, all right, this, what
I think is a strike is not. I got to
tighten up my zone a little bit.
Speaker 6 (14:19):
No, But here's the issue is that when they do the.
Speaker 12 (14:22):
Gratings for most umpires, nobody's one hundred percent, but most guys,
most guys are in very workable and satisfactory.
Speaker 6 (14:33):
Yes, this shit.
Speaker 14 (14:33):
Yes, but let's say that umpire again, it was Eric Bachus.
Let's say he's perfect, but right there, he misses three,
like three within a short period of time in one AB.
You could fix it with the challenge. I don't want
to nitpick every call. You're right, I don't to play
lawyer ball, but you can say, hey, look, instead of
complaining and getting thrown out and screaming at guy's Aaron
Boone got thrown out yesterday too, instead of screamings, hey,
(14:56):
challenge it and maybe you're wrong. Maybe they're wrong on
that too. Maybe when we see the real strike zone,
not just the one that we see on TV, maybe
he was right, and then we'll know.
Speaker 6 (15:05):
Okay, where's the punishment if you're wrong? There should be a.
Speaker 14 (15:08):
Punishment eventually eventually, No, if you have an umpire that's
still missing. Yeah, all right, let me ask you, where's
the punishment out on the basis? Rob they fix these
calls on the basis all the time? Do we see
guys getting punished? Now, you miss a call, it happens,
we move on, let's go. You will be fine. It's
fine right now with replay out on the basis.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Yeah, I just I.
Speaker 12 (15:28):
Just don't want I don't think that it impacts the
game as much as people make it out to.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
I don't remember that many games where I go.
Speaker 12 (15:35):
And I lament over oh my god, when they're bad calls,
I'll say, with my buddy's at the bar, the umpire
needs glasses, that was a terrible call.
Speaker 6 (15:43):
Whatever, and we move on to the next game. That's all.
Speaker 14 (15:47):
You know, largely I agree with you, But today I
believe the Yankees, the Diamondbacks, and the Angels would disagree
with you from games yesterday. Yesterday, Rob, that's it, okay,
Juan Soto, here's another thing you one soso thing.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I thought it was hilarious.
Speaker 14 (16:03):
You have to admit that's over, right.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
No, what do you mean?
Speaker 6 (16:06):
Is it over? No, it's not over. Have you looked
at his recent numbers. He's one of the.
Speaker 14 (16:12):
Top ten hitters in the game.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
He's one of the top ten.
Speaker 14 (16:15):
Got be fair, he's one of the top ten hitters
in the game.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
Be fair a little bit.
Speaker 6 (16:21):
One hit in his last sixteen at bats. Go look
at he got one multiple one multiple hit.
Speaker 12 (16:29):
Game in his last like fourteen games. He's been in
two fifty three. It's August almost August. All I'm saying
is he's been the biggest disappointment. You can look at
some of the other numbers, but if you honestly look
at Juan Soto.
Speaker 6 (16:44):
From last year in pinstripes and this year in the
Orange and blue, and it's better. Last year he was
the best, same player, it's better.
Speaker 14 (16:51):
I'll give you that. But again, I give you credit.
You're going after the Brewers when they're winning. You're going
to after Soto when he's in the top ten and
he's play well, get I give you credit. You don't
punch down, you punch up. I like that Hall of
Fame induction weekend. I want to get this in. You
run MLB bro focusing on the black ball player.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
This is a big weekend for that.
Speaker 14 (17:09):
Dick Allen, Dave Parker inducted posthumously. Give me their importance
to Black baseball, the players, the community.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
Well in Dave Parker, the Cobra, what he stood for.
Speaker 12 (17:21):
As far as he was one of those guys that
people remember. He had an awesome presence, unbelievable moments, you know.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
The All Star Game, to throw big home runs. We
are family team. You remember that team was filled.
Speaker 12 (17:40):
With black and Hispanic players that we are family team
that won the World Series, and he was a big
part of it. He was black through and through, and
people are in the black community really connected with him.
So Dave Parker is a big figure and had an
awesome nickname the Cobra.
Speaker 14 (17:57):
And Dick Allen goes back earlier seeing real racism, I
mean back in the day, and then again got a
bad reputation and fought with management. But you know what,
the guy was a not just a great hitter, he
was a great base runner. So he must have been
busting it somewhere. If you read the reports from the
days you think he's just laying around smoking cigarettes all
the time, he must have been running at some point,
(18:18):
because this record says otherwise. He's largely regarded as the
best player not in the Hall of Fame. I think
this rights are wrong.
Speaker 12 (18:27):
Yeah, I agree with you from the standpoint that his
numbers speak for hisself. But there was a malaise about
him and a conversation about him. Maybe he didn't was
able to make everybody feel good around him.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
I guess it's the term I'm trying to say.
Speaker 12 (18:42):
But sometimes everybody's not going to be on that level
or everybody doesn't have the same personality, but you still
could respect the.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Job that he did and the numbers that.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
He put up.
Speaker 12 (18:52):
And he'll go into the Hall of Fame. Two more
black players deserving. So it's a good thing for baseball,
and sometimes you got to right stuff.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
You know.
Speaker 14 (19:01):
For his ten year peak, we're talking ten years, not
just speak, we're talking ten years. He had the second
best ops plus in the game. Hank Aaron was number one,
Dick Allen number two. It was a low run scoring
era when he was playing, playing through the sixties, so
like some of his numbers don't look as bombastic as
the Rockies in two thousand and two, but like he
was hitting a ton. Rob, great having you back on
(19:23):
the show. Thank you so much. I'll be thinking of
you in Cooperstown, all.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
Right, BK enjoy it, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto,
if I'm writing, I'm ripping, Let's bring in a writer
or broadcaster, old or new.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
Now let's welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Tom Hamilton, the Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardians.
Well this weekend in July, you will be inducted the
Fort's See Frick Award for Broadcasters. Tom, congratulations and I'm
really thrilled for you.
Speaker 15 (19:58):
Well, thank you. It's still very surreal, it's humbling. Were grateful,
and I say we because you know, without a great wife,
none of this becomes possible. So I still can't believe
it's occurred. But now we're your knee deep into the season,
so that's kind of your focus. But July will be fun.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Let me ask you your love for baseball? Where did
that start? Tom? And when did you realize you loved
the game.
Speaker 15 (20:29):
Well, you know, we were dairy farmers about half an
hour outside of Madison, Wisconsin, and like so many people
back then, you know, dairy farms were one hundred and
fifty acres and your mom and dad milk fifty cows.
I was never old enough to milk. My parents eventually
sold the farm and we moved into a small town
(20:51):
five minutes away when I was thirteen. But for me,
really it was you know, and I'm dating myself, but
you know, those were the Milwaukee Braves in the you know,
mid sixties early sixties of Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews.
And Warren Spahn and Lou Burdette and Joe Tory, and
I was too young when they went to back to
(21:13):
back World Series and fifty seven and fifty eight. But
for me to listen, you know, on the porch on
a transistor radio, which I know nobody knows what that
is anymore.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Believe it or not.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
I used to listen to a transistort radio listening to
Mets games as a kid in New York.
Speaker 15 (21:30):
When you're you know, out on a farm, your closest
neighbor maybe a half a mile away, so you're not
getting together with kids around the block and playing that.
That was my entertainment. That's where my love came for it.
Like everybody else, I wanted to play it at that
major league level, but learned early in life I better
have a backup plan.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
And you, boy, what a great backup plan you did
pick and talk about when you got the job in Cleveland,
I mean thirty five year row as the voice of
the Guardians and your first game, do you remember, Ray? Yeah,
let me how you get the job first?
Speaker 15 (22:11):
Well, my wife and I were expecting our first child.
I was in Columbus at the time and was able
to do a couple of innings of home games with
Terry Smith, the longtime voice of the Los Angeles Angels.
Terry was gracious enough to let me sit in with
him during home games. The keyword there for the radio
(22:31):
station was I volunteered long as you didn't ask for money.
Oh yeah, you bet, you can do it. And so
we were expecting our first child, Nicholas. In November of
nineteen eighty nine, I was part of the Ohio State
football broadcast, so that was all pretty encompassing. You're focused
on your first child. The job it opened, I hadn't applied.
(22:55):
The week of Christmas, we got a story out of
the Able and Playing Dealer back in those days. The
paper came to Columbus and saw they were down to
their final four. Kind of kicked myself for not applying,
because you know, you always feel like, wow, they're not
going to look at the number two guy, and put
(23:16):
together a resume and an audition tape after Mass on
Christmas morning because nobody was at the radio station, and
lucky enough they listened and from there eventually got hired
in January of nineteen nineties. So sometimes I think it's
a miracle that the job hadn't been filled by then,
and so I've been very fortunate.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
How about the first game, and just what do you
remember about it?
Speaker 15 (23:41):
Well, like so many times back then, we were in
a lockout slash strike. Spring training was abbreviated. We only
went to Tucson for a few weeks. Seasons started a
week later, and we were supposed to open up in
New York. Instead, the Yankees came to our place on
a week night. We got into the third or fourth inning,
(24:02):
rob and a blizzard came off Lake Arion ended that ballgame.
So it was kind of a welcome to Cleveland moment.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
Wow, that's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Our guest is Tom Hamilton, of course Hall of Soon
in the Hall of Fame, broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardians,
thirty five years on the mic on the radio. And
I say this with all sincerity because I've listened to you.
You know, I worked in Detroit for a long time.
But your voice outstanding, just just great to hear baseball.
And I'm the biggest baseball fan going, so I really
(24:34):
appreciate guys who do baseball on the radio. On one
of your calls, You've had a number of great calls,
but a lot of people will remember, of course, was
the fight between Jose Ramus and of course Tim Anderson.
Just take us to that because it was it was
you know, you went viral with your call on that.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
How where did that come from? Was that your inner
Howard Cosell?
Speaker 15 (24:59):
You know what I think you You are a product
of your generation, you know. And when I was growing
up in the sixties, you know again, you know, Howard
Cosell was the biggest thing on television and ABC, wild
World of Sports and Olympic boxing was such a big thing,
and you know that it's just so different than it
is sixty years later. But you know, I think anybody
(25:23):
that was a fight fan remembers smoking Joe Frasier, Muhammad
Ali and George Foremant. Why that popped up rob at
that time, I have no idea. It's just it's a
spontan eighty thing. You never do a baseball game, going, boy,
I can't wait to become a boxer. Here in the
(25:43):
sixth inning, it was so out of left field. It
was so unpredictable, so unexpected. And again I'm not trying
to get religious on people, because a lot of people
aren't religious, but I really feel like the Good Lord
put the right words in my mouth at the right time.
If people thought it wasn't planned, how did it come out?
Speaker 4 (26:03):
I don't know.
Speaker 15 (26:04):
And again, if you start thinking about what you said
and what you're going to say, I think you lose
your spontaneity. And I got lucky.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
That's all again. Congratulations to Tom Hamilton.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
This weekend, he'll be inducted into the Baseball Hall of
Fame in Cooper's town.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
The Ford C.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Frick Award, a deserving honor to an outstanding young man.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
You rap good to be with you, buddy, always, always
thank you.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Here's the best from mlbbro dot com.
Speaker 6 (26:36):
Yo it up, It's great.
Speaker 13 (26:37):
Here's what top is today onbro dot com. What a
run has been Tampa Bay Ray's rookie centerfielder Taylor Simpsons,
who saw our thirteen game history ended and it seems
probably lost to the hands of the Baltimore was on Sunday.
Simpson will send down to the minor leagues and end
of May. But since being caught up on June twenty fourth,
he's a recorder of a hit in all but three
of the twenty one games that he's played in during
your thirteen game history. Simps the recorded a total of
(26:59):
eighteen hits, three doubles. The rookie started his career with
an eight game history and it has been a concert
in the Raised line up during the time in the
Big leagues. Simpson is a third on the bats pass
as well, with Tony's having stolen backs on the year.
As the second half begins, is here the young bro
can help the race sneak into the playoffs. Nelson's popping
today on MLB bro dot com.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
For more right now, go to MLB brow dot com.
Left Ball, it was a big week in the Big Leagues.
Speaker 10 (27:27):
Who's Who's a five?
Speaker 9 (27:29):
Don't believe?
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Is it foul? Or is it fair? And now from
mlbdbro dot com here's jrgamball CC.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
Sabbath there becomes the third black pitcher in Major League
history to make it to the Hall of Fame?
Speaker 4 (27:48):
Jr. Is it foul or fair to say.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
That another black picture won't make it to the Hall
of Fame?
Speaker 16 (27:57):
Found the black aces every rare in the game of baseball.
Black pitchers who have won twenty games in a season
only fifteen of them. Black Hall of Fame pitchers are
even more rare. Come July twenty seven CC, Sabathia will
have accomplished both. The California Kid follows Fergie Jenkins bullet
(28:18):
Bob Gibson as just the third black starter in history
to make Cooper's Town. There were never a lot of
black pitchers, but we've had some great ones. Of course,
longevity is part of the equation. When starting pitchers rack
up enough stats to be considered Hall of Fame worthy,
they've usually had long careers. Pitchers in general don't pitch
(28:41):
deep enough into games anymore to win two hundred and
fifty one games over a career like CC. There are
black pitchers you can name that were Hall of Fame talents,
from JR. Richard to Dwight Gooden, but they didn't have
the longevity to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Currently,
Hunter Green has Hall of Fame talent, but his injuries
(29:05):
lead us to believe his career won't be long enough
to reach that plateau. There aren't many other black pictures
right now who are proving to be potential Hall of
Fame talents on the level of a paulse Games or
to reach Schoolbull Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and that's why
(29:25):
CEC said that he wants to find the next him.
Hall of Fame has won black closer too in Lee Smith,
so let's not forget that you don't have to be
a starting pitcher to make the Hall of Fame. But
with just four black pictures getting the honor, it's not
something that happens often, and it's something that, unfortunately, we
(29:47):
may never see again in our lifetime. There's no black
pictures today who have even made enough impact as starters
to be tabbed as next up, So no, we won't
see it happen maybe ever again for a really long time.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Make way for weekend wagers.
Speaker 6 (30:10):
Yo, it's shabou.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
Fire up those bed naps, let's go.
Speaker 17 (30:16):
Was a rough, rough week last week, another zero to
two week. Fifteen wins nineteen losses so far this season.
But let's get right man. We need a two and oh,
a two and oh, let's get that cracking on Friday
as the Dodgers, who just broke through their little slum,
take on the Red Sox and I'm loving the over
eight and a half total runs. I know y'all ain't
feeling the Dodgers, but you know the Red Sox will
(30:37):
pull through either way. Then on Saturday, Let's go two
and oh. Let's do it with the Stro Show, The
millanated Malmroder takes on his former team in the Phillies,
and I'm feeling good with the Yankees at home minus
one and a half on that home favorite, Let's go
two and oh with Sean bau inside the Parker.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Hi, I'm Ron Parker, the founder and editor of mlbbro dot.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Com, where we cover black.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
And brown major leaguers.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Seventy five percent of the content will be about the.
Speaker 8 (31:08):
Current black and brown stars in.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
The other twenty five percent will take a look back
at some of the great black players. On the site,
there will be a ton of great written stories and
videos and features.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
MLB bro because you need to know MLV fans. When
it comes to Major League Baseball baseball, no one covers
it better than the odd cover up fact. I am
the baseball kid, first, second, third, and we're leading shows
with baseball.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
They'll watch it.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
It'll again all in one place, right here on Fox
Sports Radio.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
I Love baseball.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time, until
next time, Rob park out.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
He can't get it.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
This could be an inside the Parker.
Speaker 6 (32:03):
See you next week, same bat time, same that station.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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