On this week’s edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob discusses why it would be great for baseball if Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani win the AL and NL MVPs this season, the likelihood that we'll ever see another father-son duo in the Majors at the same time again and why he's feeling good about his decision to fade the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers before the season started. Plus, Cleveland Guardians first basemen Josh Naylor swings by to discuss how it felt to make the All-Star team for the first time in his MLB career. Later, FOX Sports broadcaster Chris Myers checks in to preview the second half of the MLB season and promote his upcoming book, 'That Deserves a Wow: Untold Stories of Legends and Champions, Their Wins and Heartbreaks'. Finally, we’ve got appearances by MLBBro.com managing editor JR Gamble and analytics guru Anthony Masterson.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
From the Berkshars 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 seventy, Rob Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
I'm your host, Rob Parker with a very special edition
of Inside the Parker. Our guests coming up on the
program Cleveland Guardians first baseman, the All Star Josh Naylor,
will talk about his experience his very first All Star Game. Plus,
we look forward to the second half of the season,
and for Fox Sports Chris Myers, you'll be Buy Plus
(00:43):
File Affair, all that and more.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Better to lead off, it's getting robbed to keep them on.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major
League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Number One, The second half of the MLB season starts
on Friday and Earnest all the teams will get back
to work after the All Star break, and one of
the big storylines is who will be the MVP in
both the American.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
League and National League. Now we get it.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
The Vegas odds have both Shohail Tani in the National
League and Aaron Judge in the American League, And that
would make total sense when you consider their numbers and
what they're doing so far. But I gotta say this,
(01:35):
if Otani wins, he will be breaking something that's never
happened before or setting a standard, because no DH has ever.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Won the MVP.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
And not only does he have power, but he hits
for hour. He's hitting over three hundred. Like that's the thing.
That's why I think both of these guys have a
great shot at winning MVP. And I'm talking about Aaron
Judge in the America League for the Yankees and Sho
Heltani for the Dodgers. Not only are they, you know,
plubbing home runs left and right, Aaron Judge has thirty four,
(02:13):
but they're both batting well over three hundred.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And you don't see that in baseball.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
So many guys are hitting under two hundred or add
two hundred or around two hundred to be able. And
I know a lot of you know, stat and analytic
people don't care about batting average. I'm sorry, I want
to see a guy. I don't want the Kyle Schwarburs
where you're batting one sixty nine with twenty nine home runs.
(02:40):
I love to see Aaron Judge batting over three hundred
with thirty four home runs and all the RBIs and
all that. He's a complete player. So I think they
have a great shot. And this will be different because
usually they have been in the same league, both in
the American League, and Otani has won two of the
last three one he didn't win Judge one. So now
(03:02):
here's a chance that both players, which arguably could be
looked at as the two best players in.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Baseball, are winning the MVPs like it.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Should be number two.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
The sons of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz were both
drafted on the final day of the Major League Baseball
Draft this past week. It's a great story, of course,
whenever you have fathers and sons, But it would be
even a greater story, wouldn't it if their sons were
drafted while Manny and Big Poppy were still playing. In fact,
(03:35):
we haven't seen a father son duo playing in the
major leagues since Rock Rains and his son Tim played
in two thousand and one. I can't believe it's been
that long, And the question is will we see it again?
We know there's the Lebron, James and BROWNI scenario playing
out in the NBA and the Lakers this coming year,
(03:55):
where for the first time a father and son in the.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
NBA will be playing together.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
In this case in baseball, I still think there's a
chance that it will happen again.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You know, we saw Ken Griffy Junior and King Griffy
Senior play together.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
There's just got to be a player who has longevity,
you know, as a role bench player, pinch hit a
late in his career, and if he has a kid,
you know, at a young age, it can wind up happening.
And we've seen it before and I think it's neat,
and I think it's really.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Neat when that other player truly earns it.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
And in the case of baseball, it's always been where
the kid, you know, have more cachet than the dad,
and the NBA is a little different with Lebron and Bronni.
But this will be something that we can look forward
to down the road. I think it will happen. There's
a lot of kids in the major leagues, which is crazy,
(04:53):
who have major league dads.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
But I think there will be a time when guys
will play.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Together again number three.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Here we go a little proof of performance.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I'm not just flabbing my gums, popping my teeth, moving
my lips. You know, I'm trying to give you some insight.
We call this proof of performance. I know we still
have the second half of the season to go. But
when I was on MLB Network with Brian Kenny before
the season started, I stepped out on a limb and
(05:24):
I said I thought both World Series teams would not
make it back.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
To the playoffs, the Texas.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Rangers and the Arizona Domentbacks. And people thought I'm crazy.
The Rangers were loaded last year the d Bacs, remember
they came out of nowhere as a wild card and
made it all the way to the World Series, and
so far, if the season were to end today, neither
team would be in the postseason.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
I don't know the d Backs. I wasn't buying into.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
They had a nice run at the end, but I
didn't think they were that great of a team, So
that was not surprise. And the only reason I picked
against the Rangers. I like that team. Seeger Simeon Garcia.
They're loaded. The only reason is I think Bruce Bochie,
their manager, is a bad luck charm. Every time he
goes to the World Series with a team, the next
(06:16):
year's team doesn't make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
How is that possible?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
He did it with the Giants when they won those
three World Series, and he did it with the Padres
when they went to the World Series, and he was
the manager who's Bochi's been incredible when you think about it,
to take three different franchises to a World Series and
to win four out of five pretty impressive. But he
is bad luck the year after, and I think that
(06:40):
bad luck is gonna stick with him this year.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
So of course you know.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I was at the All Star Game at Globe lighte
Field in Arlington, Texas, and I caught up with Josh
Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians, first baseman, and he talked
about his first experience as an All Star.
Speaker 6 (07:07):
Can you just talk about what this means to you
making any All Star team and was it something that
you dreamt about when you were younger of making an
All Star.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Tier and playing.
Speaker 7 (07:17):
I think it's something that you know you always wanted
to do when you strive for in this game, and
I think it's it's something that you want to do,
not just for yourself, but for like for those who
you love, because they see you in this situation and
they know that not necessarily you made it, but you
you made this opportunity. You made it happen from your
hard work, your dedication as a kid, you going to
(07:39):
your late night practices here and there, or instead of
going to party, you and to hitting the cage.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
You know.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
So it's those little moments.
Speaker 7 (07:45):
I can kind of get you here, and I think
it's it's a credit to a lot of people. So
it's not just on me, it's a it goes around to.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
A lot of people.
Speaker 6 (07:52):
Did you think at any point, like during the season
when things could do well, you think about the All
Star Game or you don't really think about.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
It, just play And I don't, I really don't. I
think about the World Series more than anything about anything.
And that's like the ultimate goal in my opinion.
Speaker 7 (08:05):
You obviously want to make the playoffs, but like the
World Series is the ultimate goal. So this is super
super awesome, But I think the biggest thing in baseball
is winning that World Series. Not taking anything away from
this because this is a blessing, but at the end
of the day, I think a lot of us think
about the playoffs and how we can make it, how
we can get better today, for tomorrow, for October four,
(08:27):
early November.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
You know, all the teammates with you.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
It's ratifying, is that again?
Speaker 7 (08:34):
I said this earlier just to see them how hard
they've worked in the offseason and to today. We spend
a lot of time with each other daily. It's no secret,
and we motivate each other, and I think that's what
makes us such a great family environment, like a unit together.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
And I think a lot of our other teammates.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
Got us here because they put us in situations to
get those RBIs too. They had great at bats to
pass the baton on to get the next guy up.
So I think we're extremely thankful for our teammates and
our coaches who helped us get to this moment.
Speaker 6 (09:06):
Most guys don't have a brother who also plays in
the big leagues, let alone on the same team. And
he thought of that that maybe one day you guys
are both being your all start too.
Speaker 7 (09:15):
Yeah, hopefully we'll be side each other one day. That'd
be That'd be awesome. And I know he can do it.
He's one of the best players I've ever seen on
that field. And it's a true blessing playing with him
and watching him grow and watching him develop into the
man he is and the baseball player he is.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Speaker 7 (09:31):
He's he inspires me daily and he like, he puts
so much confidence in me and makes me think.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
I'm better than I am, you know what.
Speaker 7 (09:41):
I mean that in a weird way, just because we've
grown up together and seen each other play and seen
each other you know, practice and this, this and that
and and go through kind of the same situation that
we're in the national team. We traveled the world, we
played in World championships, and he just always says, hey, like, listen,
you're you're you're phenomenal. And next I'll say to him,
and you're an MVP. Like we consistently push each other
(10:03):
and motivate each other to make each other better, because
at the end of the day, if you do that,
I think it just.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
It's a trickle down effect. It'll help the next guy.
Speaker 7 (10:09):
And then we'll do that to other players on our
team that you can ask for iro Quan he or
even class of the Latin guys.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
I don't say the Hose because Hose knows he's the best.
Speaker 7 (10:16):
But even like the Latin guys, like we we.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
Try to breed confidence in everyone.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
And I think when you breed confidence in someone, it
turns him into a player that they never thought they'd become.
And then in that it just it's a trickle down effect.
Everyone becomes great, everyone becomes a family.
Speaker 6 (10:31):
How about all the younger first time All Stars, younger players.
Is there a youth movement, a changing of the guard
in the big leagues?
Speaker 5 (10:39):
I think so.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
I think young players aren't afraid to step out of
their shelf nowadays. They're not afraid to swing and miss
at a bad pitch, They're not afraid to fail, and
I think that makes you a good player when you're
not afraid and to do anything in any situation. And
like credit to the gunner Henderson. We got to play him,
I'm gonna say three or four weeks ago, and we
obviously you see his numbers.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
He's doing good. But like his presence in the play, I.
Speaker 7 (11:01):
Didn't play one game and I sat down and I
just watched him from the side, and his movements are
super slow in the box.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
He doesn't move his head a lot.
Speaker 7 (11:08):
He doesn't swing at bad pitches, and when you do
all those things and then when you get your coaches
swing at.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
It, you crush it.
Speaker 7 (11:13):
And he hit pretty well in the series we faced him.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
We were able to get him out sometimes, but he
still hit the ball herd.
Speaker 7 (11:18):
Sometimes it's like he's a young player who's slowly learning
how to become the great player he believes he is,
and it's it's kind of cool to see from the
soft like someone way younger.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Than me doing what he's doing.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
One last question, just your team and how good it
is and can you get to the World Series. I mean,
you had a phenomenal first half of the season.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
How good of guarding.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
I think we are a phenomenal team. I think we're
the best team in baseball. I'll double down on that.
I think all of us will hear. We play the
game hard. We support each other through and through. We
even we even practice hard before the game, like there's
a lot of us doing early work and actually we're
going all that. And I think it's just it's believing
in each other. I don't think the best team wins necessarily.
I think it's a team that believes each other the
(11:59):
most and who has the most fun and who just
has complete camaraderie.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Thank you Jos.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
It was a big week in the big leagues.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
Who Who's a f.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Is it foul? Or is it fair?
Speaker 1 (12:18):
And now from mlbdbro dot com here's Jrgamball.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Jr. Is it foul or fair?
Speaker 3 (12:28):
To say that Detroit Tigers center fielder Riley Green is
a bona fide star and the cornerstone of the Detroit
Tiger's future.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Fair It's a fair ball.
Speaker 8 (12:40):
Riley Green has been the man carrying a Detroit Tigers
offense that has turned it around, going nine and four
as a team in the month of July and finally
being able to produce some double digit runs that have
helped the great pitching staff be able to close out games.
Yley Green, after struggling at the beginning of the season,
(13:03):
is now up to two seventy one with seventeen home
runs and fifty RBI when at eight sixty six ops.
That's what he bought into the All Star break. He
appeared in the All Star Game, his first for the
twenty three year old. He went zero for two, but
he showed that Detroit Tigers have a star for the future. Yes,
they have work to do. Yes they don't have an
(13:26):
offensive barrage of talents. Yes, Riley Green has to carry
a big load, but he's done it. He's on a
pace to hit thirty five home runs, to have one
hundred RBI. That's the type of middle of the order
hitter that Detroit needs. They have the pitching with School
Bull and Reees Olsen and black Jack Flaherty. They have
(13:47):
the new kid, the MLB bro Justin Henry molloy, and
now Riley Green.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Will be the stud.
Speaker 8 (13:53):
You need that stud in the middle of the lineup
that's gonna hit you thirty home runs, hit at least
to seventy, give you a BUCKI put fear in the
hearts of players, and Riley Green is developing into that
dude for the Detroit Tigers. Check him out in the
second half of the season. He said he's been working
on his game and hitting better pitches, and he told
(14:15):
me at the All Star Game Fellas that that was
the difference.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
So Green is.
Speaker 8 (14:19):
Comfortable now and expect his game to continue to climb
in the sind as the Detroit Tigers do the same.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
It's time for the pocket protector centro the analytic numbers
you need to know.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name. BS analytics is
his game. What do you got for me, Anthony?
Speaker 9 (14:41):
As the All Star Game is upon us, it's important
we take a step back and evaluate the season up
to this point. After the pace of play, rule changes
with pitch clocks, and the renaissance of the stolen base,
Pitching and defense have caught up a bit, with the
league ops down twenty five points from last year and
stolen bases down about three percent from last year's record
setting eighty percent six rate. There were four and forty
(15:03):
nine games played before the All Star break this season,
a new record and the impetus for some first half records,
notably Aaron Judges thirty four homers, breaking his own pre break.
Yankee Mark Shoheo Tani is within reach of the first
triple crown in the National League since Joe Medwick in
nineteen thirty seven, and, according to Baseball Reference, leads the
league in wins above replacement at five point four, even
(15:24):
though he's only been a DH this season. Reminder, no
full time DH has ever won the MVP, and only
Frank Robinson has won an MVP in both the AL
and NL and maybe we're seeing a new shortstop revolution
like we saw in the mid nineties. There are five shortstops,
all twenty five and under who rank in the top
fifteen in MLB in extra base hits, Gunner Henderson, Bobby Witt,
(15:46):
Junior Ezekiel Tovar, CJ. Abrams, and Elie de la Cruz.
No matter what, the second half is going to be
a doozy.
Speaker 8 (15:55):
It's the Gambler here. Vice president of Operations for mlbbro
dot Com and executive producer of the MLB Bro Show
podcast The Mixtape.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 8 (16:08):
Every Friday, we bring you the best from the world
of Black and Brown baseball. We cover the seven point
two percent of melanated Major leaguers from soup to nuts,
but with our own cultural flair and unique voice, will
take you on a ride reflecting on the accomplishments, clutch moments,
and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe
(16:32):
into baseball.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie Betts.
Speaker 8 (16:35):
Doctor k to Doctor Styx, from bro bombs to stolen
bases to black Aces, We're live at the ballparks and
also bringing you segments like Classic Hits with David Gruff,
the Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the Walk Off, and
Going Deep just the name a few of the segments
that truly capture.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
The voice of Black baseball.
Speaker 8 (16:58):
If things get out of hand, as the Boss Rob Parker,
he's kicking up dust, we will gladly pay you on
Tuesday from an MLB bro doubleheader today. Remember the heart
of the game lies in the diversity of the game
and the spirit of Black baseball that dates back to.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
The Negro leagues.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
I the Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, making sure
that you stay on top of the game and in
touch with the soul of MLB. Fuckle up for a
wild baseball journey, showing respect to the Ogs and highlighting
the new breed of melanated Malma. Robins first thing through
MLB's pipeline, all pitching with the sound of Black Baseball.
(17:39):
We got the best starting five in the business. Listen
to the MLB Bro Show podcast the Mixtape on the
iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Or wherever you get your podcasts. When Rob was a
newspaper columnist, he lived by this model. If I'm writing,
I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer or broadcaster, old
or new.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Now, let's welcome into the podcast. Chris Myers, one of
the best sports casters out there. Of course Fox Sports.
He does baseball in FS one, to whip around the NFL,
all that and much more. Legendary career. Mister Chris Myers,
is great to have you on Inside the Parker.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
How are you.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
I'm good.
Speaker 10 (18:23):
Thanks, thanks for having me on, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
All right, before we get to some baseball in the
second half of the season, which I'm looking forward to
as it plays out, I want you you to tell
us about your book. Upcoming book that's going to come
out November nineteenth. It'll be on sale then. It's called
That Deserves a Wow, untold stories of legends and champions,
(18:48):
their wins and heartbreaks. Tell us about the book, Chris.
Speaker 11 (18:52):
Well, thanks you, and it's actually you could pre order
now on either Amazon or Barnes and Noble whatever, but
it actually done to hit the shelves.
Speaker 10 (18:58):
It's interesting.
Speaker 11 (18:58):
It's November, so I wanted me to at least announce it.
But I just had been in a lot of you know,
I covered a lot of different things ten years at
ESPN and then the last twenty plus at Fox and
major events, and to be in the middle of things
like obviously catch it up to Brady and his greatest
comeback Super Bowl against Atlanta, or being there when the
(19:19):
Red Sox interviewing Johnny Damon when they broke the curse
of eighty six years, that amazing run come back, to
be the you know, the network reporter for that. But
then there were other things that I wondered, how did
I end up in the middle of these things? They
were unusual spots to be in there as a sports
broadcaster covering the event, whether it was the earthquake World
Series with the A's and Giants. I was at the
(19:41):
Atlanta Olympics recording for a Sports Center show and the
bomb went off and covered that through the night. Fox's
first NASCAR of broadcast at the Daytona five hundred, I
was there covering that as the host of the pre
ratio and Dale Earnhard dies in a crash. So those
became bigger events than sports. So I wanted to write
(20:01):
this book to just kind of share that along the way.
And then there's a lot of you know, funny, humorous
moments with people like Charles Barkley and Bill Murray that
that you get to hang out with when you're either
covering events or in and around sporting events. So it's
kind of, you know, it's reflective of life through the
lens of sports and how we cover it. And there's
some tragedy in there and with different people, including myself,
(20:23):
and how people in sports rally around each other and
at a time when I hate to sound, you know, philosophical,
but sometimes the country seems so divided. Nothing brings people
together like sporting events through thick and thin, just like
teams and fans. And so that was kind of the
kind of the push of the book. It started during
the pandemic kind of writing it, and HarperCollins said, let's
(20:44):
let's get it out there for people to enjoy.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Sounds like something I want to read.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
And you write about sports and what it does to
people because you know that you could have nothing in
common with the guy next to you in the seats,
but you guys both pull for the same team and
a bond there. It's incredible what sports does. So congratulations.
Can't wait for the book to come out. But Chris,
let's talk about the second half of the Major League
(21:09):
baseball season, the home run Derby, the All Star Game,
all behind us from Arlington, second half before the season started,
I picked the Dodgers and the Yankees, and I'm sticking
to my pick first time since nineteen eighty one.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
If they were to meet in.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
The World Series, where are you on those two teams?
They've had uneven first halves, That's what I'll call them.
You know, they still wanted a high clip, but the Yankees,
you know, had the big swoon. The Dodgers some uneven
play as well, but both teams have had injuries.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Do you like these two teams? Yeah?
Speaker 10 (21:44):
I do, and I almost you know, at the beginning
of every year for the last few years.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
I'm with you.
Speaker 11 (21:48):
I think you could have picked up It's amazing the
Dodgers what they've accomplished, and yet just that one World
Series title. And I agree with their inconsistency in the
first half.
Speaker 10 (21:59):
And I think they're both thin on pitching.
Speaker 11 (22:02):
And obviously the Yankees it seems like if if you
pitch around Soto and Judge, then you're going to beat them.
But both of these teams and will watch that July
that end of July thirtieth trade deadline they both have
the money, and they've shown the gumption in the past
to make a move to get either pitching help or
or a key hitter, a key guy that wants to
(22:24):
be there and can help them contribute. So I'm not sold.
I mean, the Phillies and the Orioles look like and
I would not have said I mean, I knew they
were going to be back there, but I wouldn't have
said that at the beginning of the year. But they
both have impressed me, especially the Phillies starting rotation along
with the Bats, and then you know, the Orioles young,
and I was shocked that they got like bumped out
(22:44):
of the playoffs so quickly last year. And I think
they need to make some kind of a pitching move
beyond you know what they did prior to this year
when they brought it an ace in Corbin Burns. I
still worry a little bit about the closure in that situation,
but to me and I again, a lot could have
but to the second half and the trade deadline could
have in effect. I'll tell you what else is exciting
too this year in covering the games, is you know
(23:06):
the fact that Cleveland and Milwaukee both with rookie managers
to kind of have and some other changes to do
what they've done too. And I know those divisions are
not as respected as some of the others. But to
be where they are, and you know, do they make
a move that puts them in the thicket things. I
wouldn't say they're World Series contenders, but it's just good
to see them contending and competing with the teams that
(23:28):
we expect to be.
Speaker 10 (23:29):
They're like the Dodgers and the Yankees.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Our guest is Chris Myers, of course from Fox Sports,
talking about the second half of the baseball season. Chris,
before like during before the season started, I also said
that the Diamondbacks and the Rangers would both not make
the playoffs. I did this on MLB Network. Brian Kenny
(23:52):
almost fell out of his chair when I said, the
two teams from the World Series will both not make
the playoffs. Do you think both can rally and make
a playoff run? But I'll say this, Bruce Bochi has
been to the World Series five times, and every year
after he has gone to the World Series, his team
(24:14):
hasn't made the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Yeah, yeah, I would know.
Speaker 11 (24:17):
I would say, first of all, as a Gutsy picked
by you prior to the season, and now it looks
like even though they're they're finding some traction. I just
think it's a crowded field if they don't win the division,
which Arizona didn't last year. They made the run, okay,
but I think San Diego has proven that they're a
little bit ahead of them, and there's too many other
(24:38):
teams and maybe not great teams, but teams that I
think are a little bit better than that Arizona. And
on the other side, you know, Texas Seattle needs some offense.
There's a team that needs to make a deal for
some offense somewhere because they're pitching looks like it's as
good as anybody for the postseason. And then you have
Houston there, so there really isn't room. And then the
(24:58):
other you know, if you figure the Yank he's of
the Red Sox and the Oriols out of that other division,
there's a room with the three wildcards if you don't
win the division, and Texas is you know, they've had
their share of injuries and they're pitching, and Boaching is
the best at shuffling, just like with the Giants when
he won, you know, getting the most out of his pitchers, bullpens,
shortening games. However, he just they don't have enough tools there,
(25:18):
and I don't know that they can make a blockbuster
deal like they tried last year, which really that that
that trade for pitching helped a little bit later.
Speaker 10 (25:25):
So I'm with you on that.
Speaker 11 (25:27):
I might not have said that at the beginning of
the year, but I don't think those teams and even
if they did get in, I don't think they would
go very far. And it is interesting that that as
much as we talk about it, you know there's teams
dro up there. They're great regular season teams, they pile
up the wins, and maybe some people can point to
the Dodgers, and then there's other teams that you know
that they get into the postseason and they make a run.
(25:49):
It's like the Phillies were a wildcard the year before
h when whenever before Arizona and and and they had
that that tremendous run. So uh yeah, getting in is important.
Speaker 10 (25:59):
Then you got to know.
Speaker 11 (25:59):
How realistic your team is to go further. And I
don't see Texas and Arizona. I don't see them back
in the mix, even even to start the postseason.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
How about the season Aaron Judge is put together.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Aaron Judge obviously had a terrible April and then just
took off. He was at one point it felt like
he was on pace to maybe even hit seventy home runs.
That might be tempered.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Now you know.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Where he is, because he's now you know, kind of
had a little bit of slump before we got into
the All Star break.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
And I mean slump for him, right, what kind of
you know for him?
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Because he's been tremendous, But how surprised are you? And
in the league where guys don't hit over guys don't
hit over three hundred anymore, he's got power and he's
he hits over three hundred.
Speaker 10 (26:48):
Yeah, that's what's amazing about about him.
Speaker 11 (26:50):
He's got power, and he can go opposite field, and
he's a terrific defensive player as well. But he does
keep the eye. You know, average still means something to me.
I know it's bad.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
I'm with you, I'm with you. I want to see
a guy back three hundred. I'm sorry.
Speaker 11 (27:06):
Yeah, Well, you're making the kind of money that the
guys are and I know they want, you know, exit.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
Velocity launch Agle, But my goodness.
Speaker 11 (27:13):
I mean, you got this where Pete Rose cringes with
what he sees the strikeouts as some of these guys,
and you know the two twenty two forty batting averages.
But that's not Judge, and that's why he's special. I
would say the seventy homers, well, I'd like to see it,
but I don't think it's going to happen, you know,
because I think you can pitch around him, and it depends.
Speaker 10 (27:31):
I don't know what's out there.
Speaker 11 (27:32):
What else the Yankees other than getting healthier and stand
is too inconsistent. So in that lineup, you know, boy,
if you you know now they've learned pitchers have we'll
get around Soto as well as Judge and we'll and
then we'll deal with the rest of that lineup. So
he probably is not going to see some of the
kind of pitching unless something else happens with that lineup.
But I certainly expect him to lead the league at
(27:54):
homewards and disappointing obviously in the home run derby when
you don't have Otani and Judge in there.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
But but times have changed.
Speaker 11 (27:59):
By the way the start game, I just I would
love to see them go back to wearing their own uniform,
their team uniform or their team cap or something. It
just it just represents since they put guys from everybody.
So that's something that I'll think about. I know, all
star uniforms are an important product and marketing item for baseball.
Speaker 10 (28:16):
But yes, getting back to Jays.
Speaker 11 (28:17):
The other thing too, is he really is such a
such a classy young man.
Speaker 10 (28:21):
He handles the fame.
Speaker 11 (28:22):
He handled the booing you know which in New York
for him to early in the season way, I can't
believe they were so vocal about that turning on him,
But they should turn on some other people in that
Yankee organization or lineup before him. But yeah, he should
lead the league in home runs and I'll bet you yeah,
I bet he finishes with a three hundred average. It
would be good to see because he's such a not
only great player, but a really good guy.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
No doubt.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
And sho Hail Tani of course, his first year with
the Dodgers, and you know, moved into the leadoff spot
after the injury to Mookie Betts.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
And I don't know, Chris. My thing would be, you know,
he's a really good pitcher.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
We got all that, but We always wondered if he
just concentrated and just became a hitter, what he could
do being in the lineup every day. As we know
Babe Ruth did that was a picture and then eventually
just became a hitter.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Is that in show Hayes's future, do you think?
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Or they'll try to do him as a dual threat
as long as they.
Speaker 11 (29:19):
Can, well, the Dodgers if he was healthy this year, Robie,
I put him out there as a picture because the
Dodger pitching has been strained and beat up, and it's
like who you know?
Speaker 10 (29:29):
Who do the glass now?
Speaker 11 (29:30):
Had the All Star year, but he said his max
pretty much his innings and it's starting to the wear
and tear. But yeah, you know, I just think even
with today's athletes, it is well prepared. He's a tall,
angular guy. He is the years go by. I think
even if he's totally healthy, he's going to have to
make a decision and cut back, and you want him
in the lineup as much as you can, and I
(29:52):
just don't see him doing both now. He wanted to
do both. The Dodgers paid the big money for both.
But at some point I think together they'll say you
know what, let's let's ease up on this because of
the ten year deal that he signed and and he
could you know, we haven't had a DH win the MVP.
Uh and and really to look at the National League,
you know, the AL you got Gunnar Henderson, We mentioned
(30:13):
Aaron Judge as somebody could have Bryce Harper certainly in
the n L the second half of the side there.
But it'd be interesting to see if ware Otani ends
up in home runs, just as you said, just being
a d agent, being in the lineup and not pitching,
and then and then what kind of you know there.
I don't know how people feel about hey is is
he really a full time player? If he's not out
there playing in the field to win MVP, probably that'll
(30:37):
that'll cost him that award. But but certainly what he's
done has been good for the Dodgers. And I do
think you'll see Mookie Bets be permanently put at second
base once he's back and healthy. And you know, Miguel
Rojas starting to hit a little. They like his glove.
I know they looked around the Dodgers poking at the
time we're talking if they might make a move for
some pitching and maybe some shortstop help.
Speaker 10 (31:00):
You know, the Gavin Lucks. It's not like they've given
up on him.
Speaker 11 (31:03):
He has his moments, but I think in the long
run he's probably somebody who will be traded and flourish
in another organization at some point.
Speaker 10 (31:11):
But that's you know.
Speaker 11 (31:12):
And Freddie Freeman, by the way, certainly he's a little
off for him, Like you said, Judge, he's you know,
his batting average is usually a lot higher. But he's
one of the best small round hitters, productible players who
could make a run two at the at the MVP.
I think in the second half, maybe push on Towny
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
No doubt. His name is Chris Myers.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Check him out on FS one's baseball coverage, of course,
and pick up his new book.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
That could pre order it. It's called That Deserves a Wow.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Untold stories of legends and champions, their wins and heartbreaks.
Chris Myers a pleasure. Thank you for joining Inside the
Park of my Man.
Speaker 10 (31:48):
Yeah no, thank you. By the way.
Speaker 11 (31:49):
In the book, some interesting stories about being up close
and around Mike Tyson and Oj Simpson posts both trials
that I'm sure you'll you'll find fascinating. Thanks for having
me on and thanks for talking to great Baseball.
Speaker 10 (32:00):
I enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Now bring in the closer. Here's why MLB it's better
than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Reason number seven hundred and fifty five why Major League
Baseball is better than the NBA and better than the
NFL came to light with the All Star uniforms. The
fans didn't like them. They looked like softball uniform for
the most part. It had American League naturally had some
funky colors. And guess what the commissioner actually addressed it.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
We get it. It's a financial thing.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
When I was a kid growing up, there were no
special uniforms made.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
You would wear whatever your team uniform was.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
That was what it was, you know, like you would
just if you were on the Mets, you would wear
your Mets uniform and everybody would have their uniforms on.
And then of course some money making situation where you
could sell these jerseys to people, so that's where that went.
But the commissioner, Rob Manford, I'll give them credit, said
that they're going to take a look at this and
kind of figure it out. There was a ground swell
(33:10):
from fans. They just didn't like what they looked like,
and the baseball is going to respond to the fans.
It's their game. It's still the best All Star game,
and the uniforms matter to fans. They really want to
feel like, you know, they want to see what they
want to see and players and what the players are wearing.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
So I think that's pretty neat.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until
next time, Rob Parker out d can't Gavin.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
This could be an inside of Parker.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
See you next week, game, same bat time from same
Matt station.
From the Berkshars 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 seventy, Rob Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
I'm your host, Rob Parker with a very special edition
of Inside the Parker. Our guests coming up on the
program Cleveland Guardians first baseman, the All Star Josh Naylor,
will talk about his experience his very first All Star Game. Plus,
we look forward to the second half of the season,
and for Fox Sports Chris Myers, you'll be Buy Plus
(00:43):
File Affair, all that and more.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Better to lead off, it's getting robbed to keep them on.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major
League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Number One, The second half of the MLB season starts
on Friday and Earnest all the teams will get back
to work after the All Star break, and one of
the big storylines is who will be the MVP in
both the American.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
League and National League. Now we get it.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
The Vegas odds have both Shohail Tani in the National
League and Aaron Judge in the American League, And that
would make total sense when you consider their numbers and
what they're doing so far. But I gotta say this,
(01:35):
if Otani wins, he will be breaking something that's never
happened before or setting a standard, because no DH has ever.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Won the MVP.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
And not only does he have power, but he hits
for hour. He's hitting over three hundred. Like that's the thing.
That's why I think both of these guys have a
great shot at winning MVP. And I'm talking about Aaron
Judge in the America League for the Yankees and Sho
Heltani for the Dodgers. Not only are they, you know,
plubbing home runs left and right, Aaron Judge has thirty four,
(02:13):
but they're both batting well over three hundred.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And you don't see that in baseball.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
So many guys are hitting under two hundred or add
two hundred or around two hundred to be able. And
I know a lot of you know, stat and analytic
people don't care about batting average. I'm sorry, I want
to see a guy. I don't want the Kyle Schwarburs
where you're batting one sixty nine with twenty nine home runs.
(02:40):
I love to see Aaron Judge batting over three hundred
with thirty four home runs and all the RBIs and
all that. He's a complete player. So I think they
have a great shot. And this will be different because
usually they have been in the same league, both in
the American League, and Otani has won two of the
last three one he didn't win Judge one. So now
(03:02):
here's a chance that both players, which arguably could be
looked at as the two best players in.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Baseball, are winning the MVPs like it.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Should be number two.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
The sons of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz were both
drafted on the final day of the Major League Baseball
Draft this past week. It's a great story, of course,
whenever you have fathers and sons, But it would be
even a greater story, wouldn't it if their sons were
drafted while Manny and Big Poppy were still playing. In fact,
(03:35):
we haven't seen a father son duo playing in the
major leagues since Rock Rains and his son Tim played
in two thousand and one. I can't believe it's been
that long, And the question is will we see it again?
We know there's the Lebron, James and BROWNI scenario playing
out in the NBA and the Lakers this coming year,
(03:55):
where for the first time a father and son in the.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
NBA will be playing together.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
In this case in baseball, I still think there's a
chance that it will happen again.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You know, we saw Ken Griffy Junior and King Griffy
Senior play together.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
There's just got to be a player who has longevity,
you know, as a role bench player, pinch hit a
late in his career, and if he has a kid,
you know, at a young age, it can wind up happening.
And we've seen it before and I think it's neat,
and I think it's really.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Neat when that other player truly earns it.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
And in the case of baseball, it's always been where
the kid, you know, have more cachet than the dad,
and the NBA is a little different with Lebron and Bronni.
But this will be something that we can look forward
to down the road. I think it will happen. There's
a lot of kids in the major leagues, which is crazy,
(04:53):
who have major league dads.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
But I think there will be a time when guys
will play.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Together again number three.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Here we go a little proof of performance.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I'm not just flabbing my gums, popping my teeth, moving
my lips. You know, I'm trying to give you some insight.
We call this proof of performance. I know we still
have the second half of the season to go. But
when I was on MLB Network with Brian Kenny before
the season started, I stepped out on a limb and
(05:24):
I said I thought both World Series teams would not
make it back.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
To the playoffs, the Texas.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Rangers and the Arizona Domentbacks. And people thought I'm crazy.
The Rangers were loaded last year the d Bacs, remember
they came out of nowhere as a wild card and
made it all the way to the World Series, and
so far, if the season were to end today, neither
team would be in the postseason.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
I don't know the d Backs. I wasn't buying into.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
They had a nice run at the end, but I
didn't think they were that great of a team, So
that was not surprise. And the only reason I picked
against the Rangers. I like that team. Seeger Simeon Garcia.
They're loaded. The only reason is I think Bruce Bochie,
their manager, is a bad luck charm. Every time he
goes to the World Series with a team, the next
(06:16):
year's team doesn't make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
How is that possible?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
He did it with the Giants when they won those
three World Series, and he did it with the Padres
when they went to the World Series, and he was
the manager who's Bochi's been incredible when you think about it,
to take three different franchises to a World Series and
to win four out of five pretty impressive. But he
is bad luck the year after, and I think that
(06:40):
bad luck is gonna stick with him this year.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
So of course you know.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I was at the All Star Game at Globe lighte
Field in Arlington, Texas, and I caught up with Josh
Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians, first baseman, and he talked
about his first experience as an All Star.
Speaker 6 (07:07):
Can you just talk about what this means to you
making any All Star team and was it something that
you dreamt about when you were younger of making an
All Star.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Tier and playing.
Speaker 7 (07:17):
I think it's something that you know you always wanted
to do when you strive for in this game, and
I think it's it's something that you want to do,
not just for yourself, but for like for those who
you love, because they see you in this situation and
they know that not necessarily you made it, but you
you made this opportunity. You made it happen from your
hard work, your dedication as a kid, you going to
(07:39):
your late night practices here and there, or instead of
going to party, you and to hitting the cage.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
You know.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
So it's those little moments.
Speaker 7 (07:45):
I can kind of get you here, and I think
it's it's a credit to a lot of people. So
it's not just on me, it's a it goes around to.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
A lot of people.
Speaker 6 (07:52):
Did you think at any point, like during the season
when things could do well, you think about the All
Star Game or you don't really think about.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
It, just play And I don't, I really don't. I
think about the World Series more than anything about anything.
And that's like the ultimate goal in my opinion.
Speaker 7 (08:05):
You obviously want to make the playoffs, but like the
World Series is the ultimate goal. So this is super
super awesome, But I think the biggest thing in baseball
is winning that World Series. Not taking anything away from
this because this is a blessing, but at the end
of the day, I think a lot of us think
about the playoffs and how we can make it, how
we can get better today, for tomorrow, for October four,
(08:27):
early November.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
You know, all the teammates with you.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
It's ratifying, is that again?
Speaker 7 (08:34):
I said this earlier just to see them how hard
they've worked in the offseason and to today. We spend
a lot of time with each other daily. It's no secret,
and we motivate each other, and I think that's what
makes us such a great family environment, like a unit together.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
And I think a lot of our other teammates.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
Got us here because they put us in situations to
get those RBIs too. They had great at bats to
pass the baton on to get the next guy up.
So I think we're extremely thankful for our teammates and
our coaches who helped us get to this moment.
Speaker 6 (09:06):
Most guys don't have a brother who also plays in
the big leagues, let alone on the same team. And
he thought of that that maybe one day you guys
are both being your all start too.
Speaker 7 (09:15):
Yeah, hopefully we'll be side each other one day. That'd
be That'd be awesome. And I know he can do it.
He's one of the best players I've ever seen on
that field. And it's a true blessing playing with him
and watching him grow and watching him develop into the
man he is and the baseball player he is.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Speaker 7 (09:31):
He's he inspires me daily and he like, he puts
so much confidence in me and makes me think.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
I'm better than I am, you know what.
Speaker 7 (09:41):
I mean that in a weird way, just because we've
grown up together and seen each other play and seen
each other you know, practice and this, this and that
and and go through kind of the same situation that
we're in the national team. We traveled the world, we
played in World championships, and he just always says, hey, like, listen,
you're you're you're phenomenal. And next I'll say to him,
and you're an MVP. Like we consistently push each other
(10:03):
and motivate each other to make each other better, because
at the end of the day, if you do that,
I think it just.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
It's a trickle down effect. It'll help the next guy.
Speaker 7 (10:09):
And then we'll do that to other players on our
team that you can ask for iro Quan he or
even class of the Latin guys.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
I don't say the Hose because Hose knows he's the best.
Speaker 7 (10:16):
But even like the Latin guys, like we we.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
Try to breed confidence in everyone.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
And I think when you breed confidence in someone, it
turns him into a player that they never thought they'd become.
And then in that it just it's a trickle down effect.
Everyone becomes great, everyone becomes a family.
Speaker 6 (10:31):
How about all the younger first time All Stars, younger players.
Is there a youth movement, a changing of the guard
in the big leagues?
Speaker 5 (10:39):
I think so.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
I think young players aren't afraid to step out of
their shelf nowadays. They're not afraid to swing and miss
at a bad pitch, They're not afraid to fail, and
I think that makes you a good player when you're
not afraid and to do anything in any situation. And
like credit to the gunner Henderson. We got to play him,
I'm gonna say three or four weeks ago, and we
obviously you see his numbers.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
He's doing good. But like his presence in the play, I.
Speaker 7 (11:01):
Didn't play one game and I sat down and I
just watched him from the side, and his movements are
super slow in the box.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
He doesn't move his head a lot.
Speaker 7 (11:08):
He doesn't swing at bad pitches, and when you do
all those things and then when you get your coaches
swing at.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
It, you crush it.
Speaker 7 (11:13):
And he hit pretty well in the series we faced him.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
We were able to get him out sometimes, but he
still hit the ball herd.
Speaker 7 (11:18):
Sometimes it's like he's a young player who's slowly learning
how to become the great player he believes he is,
and it's it's kind of cool to see from the
soft like someone way younger.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Than me doing what he's doing.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
One last question, just your team and how good it
is and can you get to the World Series. I mean,
you had a phenomenal first half of the season.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
How good of guarding.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
I think we are a phenomenal team. I think we're
the best team in baseball. I'll double down on that.
I think all of us will hear. We play the
game hard. We support each other through and through. We
even we even practice hard before the game, like there's
a lot of us doing early work and actually we're
going all that. And I think it's just it's believing
in each other. I don't think the best team wins necessarily.
I think it's a team that believes each other the
(11:59):
most and who has the most fun and who just
has complete camaraderie.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Thank you Jos.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
It was a big week in the big leagues.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
Who Who's a f.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Is it foul? Or is it fair?
Speaker 1 (12:18):
And now from mlbdbro dot com here's Jrgamball.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Jr. Is it foul or fair?
Speaker 3 (12:28):
To say that Detroit Tigers center fielder Riley Green is
a bona fide star and the cornerstone of the Detroit
Tiger's future.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Fair It's a fair ball.
Speaker 8 (12:40):
Riley Green has been the man carrying a Detroit Tigers
offense that has turned it around, going nine and four
as a team in the month of July and finally
being able to produce some double digit runs that have
helped the great pitching staff be able to close out games.
Yley Green, after struggling at the beginning of the season,
(13:03):
is now up to two seventy one with seventeen home
runs and fifty RBI when at eight sixty six ops.
That's what he bought into the All Star break. He
appeared in the All Star Game, his first for the
twenty three year old. He went zero for two, but
he showed that Detroit Tigers have a star for the future. Yes,
they have work to do. Yes they don't have an
(13:26):
offensive barrage of talents. Yes, Riley Green has to carry
a big load, but he's done it. He's on a
pace to hit thirty five home runs, to have one
hundred RBI. That's the type of middle of the order
hitter that Detroit needs. They have the pitching with School
Bull and Reees Olsen and black Jack Flaherty. They have
(13:47):
the new kid, the MLB bro Justin Henry molloy, and
now Riley Green.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Will be the stud.
Speaker 8 (13:53):
You need that stud in the middle of the lineup
that's gonna hit you thirty home runs, hit at least
to seventy, give you a BUCKI put fear in the
hearts of players, and Riley Green is developing into that
dude for the Detroit Tigers. Check him out in the
second half of the season. He said he's been working
on his game and hitting better pitches, and he told
(14:15):
me at the All Star Game Fellas that that was
the difference.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
So Green is.
Speaker 8 (14:19):
Comfortable now and expect his game to continue to climb
in the sind as the Detroit Tigers do the same.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
It's time for the pocket protector centro the analytic numbers
you need to know.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name. BS analytics is
his game. What do you got for me, Anthony?
Speaker 9 (14:41):
As the All Star Game is upon us, it's important
we take a step back and evaluate the season up
to this point. After the pace of play, rule changes
with pitch clocks, and the renaissance of the stolen base,
Pitching and defense have caught up a bit, with the
league ops down twenty five points from last year and
stolen bases down about three percent from last year's record
setting eighty percent six rate. There were four and forty
(15:03):
nine games played before the All Star break this season,
a new record and the impetus for some first half records,
notably Aaron Judges thirty four homers, breaking his own pre break.
Yankee Mark Shoheo Tani is within reach of the first
triple crown in the National League since Joe Medwick in
nineteen thirty seven, and, according to Baseball Reference, leads the
league in wins above replacement at five point four, even
(15:24):
though he's only been a DH this season. Reminder, no
full time DH has ever won the MVP, and only
Frank Robinson has won an MVP in both the AL
and NL and maybe we're seeing a new shortstop revolution
like we saw in the mid nineties. There are five shortstops,
all twenty five and under who rank in the top
fifteen in MLB in extra base hits, Gunner Henderson, Bobby Witt,
(15:46):
Junior Ezekiel Tovar, CJ. Abrams, and Elie de la Cruz.
No matter what, the second half is going to be
a doozy.
Speaker 8 (15:55):
It's the Gambler here. Vice president of Operations for mlbbro
dot Com and executive producer of the MLB Bro Show
podcast The Mixtape.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 8 (16:08):
Every Friday, we bring you the best from the world
of Black and Brown baseball. We cover the seven point
two percent of melanated Major leaguers from soup to nuts,
but with our own cultural flair and unique voice, will
take you on a ride reflecting on the accomplishments, clutch moments,
and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe
(16:32):
into baseball.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie Betts.
Speaker 8 (16:35):
Doctor k to Doctor Styx, from bro bombs to stolen
bases to black Aces, We're live at the ballparks and
also bringing you segments like Classic Hits with David Gruff,
the Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the Walk Off, and
Going Deep just the name a few of the segments
that truly capture.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
The voice of Black baseball.
Speaker 8 (16:58):
If things get out of hand, as the Boss Rob Parker,
he's kicking up dust, we will gladly pay you on
Tuesday from an MLB bro doubleheader today. Remember the heart
of the game lies in the diversity of the game
and the spirit of Black baseball that dates back to.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
The Negro leagues.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
I the Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, making sure
that you stay on top of the game and in
touch with the soul of MLB. Fuckle up for a
wild baseball journey, showing respect to the Ogs and highlighting
the new breed of melanated Malma. Robins first thing through
MLB's pipeline, all pitching with the sound of Black Baseball.
(17:39):
We got the best starting five in the business. Listen
to the MLB Bro Show podcast the Mixtape on the
iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Or wherever you get your podcasts. When Rob was a
newspaper columnist, he lived by this model. If I'm writing,
I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer or broadcaster, old
or new.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Now, let's welcome into the podcast. Chris Myers, one of
the best sports casters out there. Of course Fox Sports.
He does baseball in FS one, to whip around the NFL,
all that and much more. Legendary career. Mister Chris Myers,
is great to have you on Inside the Parker.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
How are you.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
I'm good.
Speaker 10 (18:23):
Thanks, thanks for having me on, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
All right, before we get to some baseball in the
second half of the season, which I'm looking forward to
as it plays out, I want you you to tell
us about your book. Upcoming book that's going to come
out November nineteenth. It'll be on sale then. It's called
That Deserves a Wow, untold stories of legends and champions,
(18:48):
their wins and heartbreaks. Tell us about the book, Chris.
Speaker 11 (18:52):
Well, thanks you, and it's actually you could pre order
now on either Amazon or Barnes and Noble whatever, but
it actually done to hit the shelves.
Speaker 10 (18:58):
It's interesting.
Speaker 11 (18:58):
It's November, so I wanted me to at least announce it.
But I just had been in a lot of you know,
I covered a lot of different things ten years at
ESPN and then the last twenty plus at Fox and
major events, and to be in the middle of things
like obviously catch it up to Brady and his greatest
comeback Super Bowl against Atlanta, or being there when the
(19:19):
Red Sox interviewing Johnny Damon when they broke the curse
of eighty six years, that amazing run come back, to
be the you know, the network reporter for that. But
then there were other things that I wondered, how did
I end up in the middle of these things? They
were unusual spots to be in there as a sports
broadcaster covering the event, whether it was the earthquake World
Series with the A's and Giants. I was at the
(19:41):
Atlanta Olympics recording for a Sports Center show and the
bomb went off and covered that through the night. Fox's
first NASCAR of broadcast at the Daytona five hundred, I
was there covering that as the host of the pre
ratio and Dale Earnhard dies in a crash. So those
became bigger events than sports. So I wanted to write
(20:01):
this book to just kind of share that along the way.
And then there's a lot of you know, funny, humorous
moments with people like Charles Barkley and Bill Murray that
that you get to hang out with when you're either
covering events or in and around sporting events. So it's
kind of, you know, it's reflective of life through the
lens of sports and how we cover it. And there's
some tragedy in there and with different people, including myself,
(20:23):
and how people in sports rally around each other and
at a time when I hate to sound, you know, philosophical,
but sometimes the country seems so divided. Nothing brings people
together like sporting events through thick and thin, just like
teams and fans. And so that was kind of the
kind of the push of the book. It started during
the pandemic kind of writing it, and HarperCollins said, let's
(20:44):
let's get it out there for people to enjoy.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Sounds like something I want to read.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
And you write about sports and what it does to
people because you know that you could have nothing in
common with the guy next to you in the seats,
but you guys both pull for the same team and
a bond there. It's incredible what sports does. So congratulations.
Can't wait for the book to come out. But Chris,
let's talk about the second half of the Major League
(21:09):
baseball season, the home run Derby, the All Star Game,
all behind us from Arlington, second half before the season started,
I picked the Dodgers and the Yankees, and I'm sticking
to my pick first time since nineteen eighty one.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
If they were to meet in.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
The World Series, where are you on those two teams?
They've had uneven first halves, That's what I'll call them.
You know, they still wanted a high clip, but the Yankees,
you know, had the big swoon. The Dodgers some uneven
play as well, but both teams have had injuries.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Do you like these two teams? Yeah?
Speaker 10 (21:44):
I do, and I almost you know, at the beginning
of every year for the last few years.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
I'm with you.
Speaker 11 (21:48):
I think you could have picked up It's amazing the
Dodgers what they've accomplished, and yet just that one World
Series title. And I agree with their inconsistency in the
first half.
Speaker 10 (21:59):
And I think they're both thin on pitching.
Speaker 11 (22:02):
And obviously the Yankees it seems like if if you
pitch around Soto and Judge, then you're going to beat them.
But both of these teams and will watch that July
that end of July thirtieth trade deadline they both have
the money, and they've shown the gumption in the past
to make a move to get either pitching help or
or a key hitter, a key guy that wants to
(22:24):
be there and can help them contribute. So I'm not sold.
I mean, the Phillies and the Orioles look like and
I would not have said I mean, I knew they
were going to be back there, but I wouldn't have
said that at the beginning of the year. But they
both have impressed me, especially the Phillies starting rotation along
with the Bats, and then you know, the Orioles young,
and I was shocked that they got like bumped out
(22:44):
of the playoffs so quickly last year. And I think
they need to make some kind of a pitching move
beyond you know what they did prior to this year
when they brought it an ace in Corbin Burns. I
still worry a little bit about the closure in that situation,
but to me and I again, a lot could have
but to the second half and the trade deadline could
have in effect. I'll tell you what else is exciting
too this year in covering the games, is you know
(23:06):
the fact that Cleveland and Milwaukee both with rookie managers
to kind of have and some other changes to do
what they've done too. And I know those divisions are
not as respected as some of the others. But to
be where they are, and you know, do they make
a move that puts them in the thicket things. I
wouldn't say they're World Series contenders, but it's just good
to see them contending and competing with the teams that
(23:28):
we expect to be.
Speaker 10 (23:29):
They're like the Dodgers and the Yankees.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Our guest is Chris Myers, of course from Fox Sports,
talking about the second half of the baseball season. Chris,
before like during before the season started, I also said
that the Diamondbacks and the Rangers would both not make
the playoffs. I did this on MLB Network. Brian Kenny
(23:52):
almost fell out of his chair when I said, the
two teams from the World Series will both not make
the playoffs. Do you think both can rally and make
a playoff run? But I'll say this, Bruce Bochi has
been to the World Series five times, and every year
after he has gone to the World Series, his team
(24:14):
hasn't made the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Yeah, yeah, I would know.
Speaker 11 (24:17):
I would say, first of all, as a Gutsy picked
by you prior to the season, and now it looks
like even though they're they're finding some traction. I just
think it's a crowded field if they don't win the division,
which Arizona didn't last year. They made the run, okay,
but I think San Diego has proven that they're a
little bit ahead of them, and there's too many other
(24:38):
teams and maybe not great teams, but teams that I
think are a little bit better than that Arizona. And
on the other side, you know, Texas Seattle needs some offense.
There's a team that needs to make a deal for
some offense somewhere because they're pitching looks like it's as
good as anybody for the postseason. And then you have
Houston there, so there really isn't room. And then the
(24:58):
other you know, if you figure the Yank he's of
the Red Sox and the Oriols out of that other division,
there's a room with the three wildcards if you don't
win the division, and Texas is you know, they've had
their share of injuries and they're pitching, and Boaching is
the best at shuffling, just like with the Giants when
he won, you know, getting the most out of his pitchers, bullpens,
shortening games. However, he just they don't have enough tools there,
(25:18):
and I don't know that they can make a blockbuster
deal like they tried last year, which really that that
that trade for pitching helped a little bit later.
Speaker 10 (25:25):
So I'm with you on that.
Speaker 11 (25:27):
I might not have said that at the beginning of
the year, but I don't think those teams and even
if they did get in, I don't think they would
go very far. And it is interesting that that as
much as we talk about it, you know there's teams
dro up there. They're great regular season teams, they pile
up the wins, and maybe some people can point to
the Dodgers, and then there's other teams that you know
that they get into the postseason and they make a run.
(25:49):
It's like the Phillies were a wildcard the year before
h when whenever before Arizona and and and they had
that that tremendous run. So uh yeah, getting in is important.
Speaker 10 (25:59):
Then you got to know.
Speaker 11 (25:59):
How realistic your team is to go further. And I
don't see Texas and Arizona. I don't see them back
in the mix, even even to start the postseason.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
How about the season Aaron Judge is put together.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Aaron Judge obviously had a terrible April and then just
took off. He was at one point it felt like
he was on pace to maybe even hit seventy home runs.
That might be tempered.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Now you know.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Where he is, because he's now you know, kind of
had a little bit of slump before we got into
the All Star break.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
And I mean slump for him, right, what kind of
you know for him?
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Because he's been tremendous, But how surprised are you? And
in the league where guys don't hit over guys don't
hit over three hundred anymore, he's got power and he's
he hits over three hundred.
Speaker 10 (26:48):
Yeah, that's what's amazing about about him.
Speaker 11 (26:50):
He's got power, and he can go opposite field, and
he's a terrific defensive player as well. But he does
keep the eye. You know, average still means something to me.
I know it's bad.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
I'm with you, I'm with you. I want to see
a guy back three hundred. I'm sorry.
Speaker 11 (27:06):
Yeah, Well, you're making the kind of money that the
guys are and I know they want, you know, exit.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
Velocity launch Agle, But my goodness.
Speaker 11 (27:13):
I mean, you got this where Pete Rose cringes with
what he sees the strikeouts as some of these guys,
and you know the two twenty two forty batting averages.
But that's not Judge, and that's why he's special. I
would say the seventy homers, well, I'd like to see it,
but I don't think it's going to happen, you know,
because I think you can pitch around him, and it depends.
Speaker 10 (27:31):
I don't know what's out there.
Speaker 11 (27:32):
What else the Yankees other than getting healthier and stand
is too inconsistent. So in that lineup, you know, boy,
if you you know now they've learned pitchers have we'll
get around Soto as well as Judge and we'll and
then we'll deal with the rest of that lineup. So
he probably is not going to see some of the
kind of pitching unless something else happens with that lineup.
But I certainly expect him to lead the league at
(27:54):
homewards and disappointing obviously in the home run derby when
you don't have Otani and Judge in there.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
But but times have changed.
Speaker 11 (27:59):
By the way the start game, I just I would
love to see them go back to wearing their own uniform,
their team uniform or their team cap or something. It
just it just represents since they put guys from everybody.
So that's something that I'll think about. I know, all
star uniforms are an important product and marketing item for baseball.
Speaker 10 (28:16):
But yes, getting back to Jays.
Speaker 11 (28:17):
The other thing too, is he really is such a
such a classy young man.
Speaker 10 (28:21):
He handles the fame.
Speaker 11 (28:22):
He handled the booing you know which in New York
for him to early in the season way, I can't
believe they were so vocal about that turning on him,
But they should turn on some other people in that
Yankee organization or lineup before him. But yeah, he should
lead the league in home runs and I'll bet you yeah,
I bet he finishes with a three hundred average. It
would be good to see because he's such a not
only great player, but a really good guy.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
No doubt.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
And sho Hail Tani of course, his first year with
the Dodgers, and you know, moved into the leadoff spot
after the injury to Mookie Betts.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
And I don't know, Chris. My thing would be, you know,
he's a really good pitcher.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
We got all that, but We always wondered if he
just concentrated and just became a hitter, what he could
do being in the lineup every day. As we know
Babe Ruth did that was a picture and then eventually
just became a hitter.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Is that in show Hayes's future, do you think?
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Or they'll try to do him as a dual threat
as long as they.
Speaker 11 (29:19):
Can, well, the Dodgers if he was healthy this year, Robie,
I put him out there as a picture because the
Dodger pitching has been strained and beat up, and it's
like who you know?
Speaker 10 (29:29):
Who do the glass now?
Speaker 11 (29:30):
Had the All Star year, but he said his max
pretty much his innings and it's starting to the wear
and tear. But yeah, you know, I just think even
with today's athletes, it is well prepared. He's a tall,
angular guy. He is the years go by. I think
even if he's totally healthy, he's going to have to
make a decision and cut back, and you want him
in the lineup as much as you can, and I
(29:52):
just don't see him doing both now. He wanted to
do both. The Dodgers paid the big money for both.
But at some point I think together they'll say you
know what, let's let's ease up on this because of
the ten year deal that he signed and and he
could you know, we haven't had a DH win the MVP.
Uh and and really to look at the National League,
you know, the AL you got Gunnar Henderson, We mentioned
(30:13):
Aaron Judge as somebody could have Bryce Harper certainly in
the n L the second half of the side there.
But it'd be interesting to see if ware Otani ends
up in home runs, just as you said, just being
a d agent, being in the lineup and not pitching,
and then and then what kind of you know there.
I don't know how people feel about hey is is
he really a full time player? If he's not out
there playing in the field to win MVP, probably that'll
(30:37):
that'll cost him that award. But but certainly what he's
done has been good for the Dodgers. And I do
think you'll see Mookie Bets be permanently put at second
base once he's back and healthy. And you know, Miguel
Rojas starting to hit a little. They like his glove.
I know they looked around the Dodgers poking at the
time we're talking if they might make a move for
some pitching and maybe some shortstop help.
Speaker 10 (31:00):
You know, the Gavin Lucks. It's not like they've given
up on him.
Speaker 11 (31:03):
He has his moments, but I think in the long
run he's probably somebody who will be traded and flourish
in another organization at some point.
Speaker 10 (31:11):
But that's you know.
Speaker 11 (31:12):
And Freddie Freeman, by the way, certainly he's a little
off for him, Like you said, Judge, he's you know,
his batting average is usually a lot higher. But he's
one of the best small round hitters, productible players who
could make a run two at the at the MVP.
I think in the second half, maybe push on Towny
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
No doubt. His name is Chris Myers.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Check him out on FS one's baseball coverage, of course,
and pick up his new book.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
That could pre order it. It's called That Deserves a Wow.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Untold stories of legends and champions, their wins and heartbreaks.
Chris Myers a pleasure. Thank you for joining Inside the
Park of my Man.
Speaker 10 (31:48):
Yeah no, thank you. By the way.
Speaker 11 (31:49):
In the book, some interesting stories about being up close
and around Mike Tyson and Oj Simpson posts both trials
that I'm sure you'll you'll find fascinating. Thanks for having
me on and thanks for talking to great Baseball.
Speaker 10 (32:00):
I enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Now bring in the closer. Here's why MLB it's better
than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Reason number seven hundred and fifty five why Major League
Baseball is better than the NBA and better than the
NFL came to light with the All Star uniforms. The
fans didn't like them. They looked like softball uniform for
the most part. It had American League naturally had some
funky colors. And guess what the commissioner actually addressed it.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
We get it. It's a financial thing.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
When I was a kid growing up, there were no
special uniforms made.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
You would wear whatever your team uniform was.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
That was what it was, you know, like you would
just if you were on the Mets, you would wear
your Mets uniform and everybody would have their uniforms on.
And then of course some money making situation where you
could sell these jerseys to people, so that's where that went.
But the commissioner, Rob Manford, I'll give them credit, said
that they're going to take a look at this and
kind of figure it out. There was a ground swell
(33:10):
from fans. They just didn't like what they looked like,
and the baseball is going to respond to the fans.
It's their game. It's still the best All Star game,
and the uniforms matter to fans. They really want to
feel like, you know, they want to see what they
want to see and players and what the players are wearing.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
So I think that's pretty neat.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until
next time, Rob Parker out d can't Gavin.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
This could be an inside of Parker.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
See you next week, game, same bat time from same
Matt station.
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kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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