On this week’s edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob discusses the Colorado Rockies getting their first series win since 2024, why the Pittsburgh Pirates absolutely cannot trade ace pitcher Paul Skenes, and why it's time to put the 'Baseball is Dead' narrative to bed for good. Later, New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham swings by. Plus, a conversation with Chicago Sun-Times White Sox beat writer Kyle Williams, a hot and fresh edition of Parker's Pushback, and Rob's latest appearance on MLB Network.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
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 fifty seven, Rob Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Come on, I've been covering Major League baseball for almost
forty years now, in New York.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
In Cincinnati, in Detroit, in LA. I love this game.
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker. What
a show we have for you today. Coming up, we'll
talk with New York Yankee center fielder Trent Grisham and
his amazing start to the twenty twenty five season. Also,
we'll check in on the White Sox with Kyle Williams.
He writes and covers the White Sox for the Chicago
(00:58):
Sun Times.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Plus we'll have a little pushback that and much more.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Let's go better up to lead off, it's getting rocked
and keep them on.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Rob's hot take on.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
The three biggest stories in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Number one, stop the presses.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
The Colorado Rockies, just that awful baseball team in Denver
finally won a series they had gone twenty two straight
series without winning one, and finally they've won a series,
winning the first two games against the Miami Marlins. My goodness, gracious.
Even so, coming into Wednesday they were a league worse
(01:40):
eleven and fifty.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
They will no.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Doubt set the record for the most losses in a
Major League Baseball season. It's unbelievable how bad the Rockies are,
and something has to be done. They should not be
this bad, and they have to get better, and they
have to spend money on this team.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Denver's a big time city. I've seen that ballpart.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
In fact, a little history info, I actually covered the
first Colorado Rockies game in baseball history. They played the
Mets when I was writing for Newsday. I do remember that,
and man, they've had a lot of great moments there
in that park and in that town.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
But this is pretty bad. Something has to be done
with the Rockies.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Number two.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
The numbers are horrific for Pirates Ace Paul skeins, and
not from his standpoint, but from the team standpoint.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Are you ready?
Speaker 2 (02:38):
In his last five starts, where he's only allowed four
earned runs in thirty four and two thirds innings.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
He's one and two, did you hear me?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
And the Pirates are two and three.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
He's given up four earned runs in thirty four point
two innings, and he now has had two games where
he's pitched eight plus innings, allowed zero in one game
runs ear runs and one in the other, and has
allowed fewer than three hits in either of those starts.
(03:15):
So you cannot pitch any better. But there's no offense there.
I know, pretty bad, but I'm still gonna say this.
As much as the Pirates need as far as players,
and they can get a haul for Paul Skins. I
think twenty teams in Major League Baseball would put a
package together and give up prospects, top prospects to get
(03:38):
Paul Skins on their team. It would be a bidding
war for this guy. But they can't trade him. The
Pirates cannot trade. They got to build around him. They
gotta go get some offense. They got to get in
the free agency. They have to. I saw this happen
in Detroit after a long drivet justin Berlanders showed up
(04:02):
and he was the starting point, and then they got
other pieces.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
They went and got Miguel Cabrera and paid them big money.
Maglio Ordoniez. I could go on and on.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
The Tigers just started going on a spending spree and
getting players and guess what, they sold out the ballpark.
They went to the World Series. They were in the
playoffs every year. Yes, it can be done. Ownership has
to do this. Do not trade Paulski.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Number Three. All we hear is.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
That the numbers in sports television are going down.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Right.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
NBA had its little downward spiral.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
NFL, you know, it's still a juggernaut, but some of
the numbers maybe not as good as they have been
in the past, things of that nature. But guess what,
the news from Major League Baseball is really good, so
good that I'm gonna have to put my glasses on
so that I don't botch this. The numbers are pretty amazing,
(05:00):
and that came out recently.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
This year versus last year.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Fox up ten percent, ESPN up twenty two percent, Turner
up sixteen percent. How about in this demographic at Turner
is up sixty nine percent between eighteen and thirty four.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Those are the young people you're looking for. That's great news.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
MLB Network up thirteen percent, MLB TV up twenty seven percent. NHK,
which is the Japanese network up twenty two percent. I mean,
these are numbers. If you're the commissioner, you have to
be happy with. And this has been a trend for
the last couple of years. We know that since the
(05:44):
rule changes, games are faster, they move along, and we
have so many young stars in baseball to watch as
a baseball fan.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Every team has a couple of them. I just mentioned
Paul Skins in Pittsburgh, right, Like, these teams have some really,
really good young players out there, and so this is
good for baseball. The numbers are encouraging. We've even seen
growth in the streaming stuff, social media stuff. Baseball's on
the uptick. It's a good thing to see.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn. It's so good.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Now let's welcome into the podcast. Tran Grisham, of course,
centerfielder for the New York Yankees. Trying to thank for
joining us.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Yeah, thanks for having me, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
What a great start to the season for you and
the Yankees. Let's talk about your team first, and just
you got some bad news right away, Garrett Cole. You
lose your ace. You know, some other injuries going on
with some players and whatnot. And yet this team has
been able to persevere. Just talk about the start for
this team.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Yeah, it's been a really good start. Yeah, tough news
to begin, but we knew we had a deep pitching
staff the entire time, and a lot of guys have
stepped up. Warren stepped up big time, obviously, Max's throwing
the ball well, Carlos strolling the ball well, Yardborough is
stepping up out of the bend and helping us out
when Stro went down. Like it's just been like kind
of top to bottom. Everybody's really stepping up after that
(07:14):
bad news. But yeah, the offense has been doing their
thing too, So yeah, it's been a really good start.
Looking forward to keep it going.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
We talked about Max Freed and been incredible seven and one.
The Yankees are ten and two in the games that
he started. Just talk about coming to New York, the pressure,
you lose your ace, you gotta fill in, you gotta
hold everything together. Like that's a big step. We got
the big contract. There's a lot of pressure there. Maxis
(07:43):
seemed to handle it.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Yeah, he's got a good temperament for it. Very calm
dude and relaxed dude overall. So yeah, and you can
tell her just he really cares about going out there
and competing every day. So I think that's really what
separates him and has allowed him to get off to
this really good start.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Let's talk about you on your start, a real hot
start for the Yankees, home runs, doing everything. Just how
did you feel coming into the season and your ex
What were your expectations.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
I didn't really have any expectations other than what I
was doing preparing mentally, had a good foundation over the
last two years. I just got to a bad spot
in San Diego mentally and how I was preparing. So
really last year, sat down, last two op seasons ago,
sat down and said, hey, I need to I need
(08:33):
to turn it around. Put in a lot of good
work last year. Was it physical?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Mental? What?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
What?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
What? What did you say well to yourself? Was it
things you needed to work on or do better or
was it just something mentally?
Speaker 5 (08:45):
I just needed to think better. So I just made
it a real emphasis the two op seasons ago and
put in a lot of good work last year, not
playing a lot, but on the side lines, behind the scenes,
putting a lot of good work in and then just
kind of building on that.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
How about your power, the home run power. Yankee Stayum's
a good place for it as well. But do you
have a mindset about hitting home runs? Is it just
naturally trying to hit the ball hard and somewhere, or
are you trying to hit home runs?
Speaker 5 (09:19):
No, I'm really trying to hit a line drive to
left center every single time, and whatever happens after that,
I'm good with as long as I keep my mind
on that.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Our guess is Trent Chrisham joining us here on inside
the Parker. You mentioned San Diego before, talk about playing
a difference between playing in the Bronx and playing in
San Diego. San Diego has a beautiful ballpark. Yankee Stadium,
of course is beautiful as well.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
Just the differences, I'll just say the overall it's kind
of polar opposites and everywhere. Obviously good fans of both
and a blast to play in both places, but just
I'd say the personality of the cities are completely opposite.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
One is laid back and one is in bustle, right.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
And then obviously the coast opposite ends of the coast.
I mean, it was just kind of opposite in a
lot of ways. But playing for both has been a
lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
This team has a big lead, the biggest lead of
any division leader, and a lot of the divisions are
pretty close in different teams in the American League, other
teams you see the Tigers are off to a good start.
The Central looks like possibly could have three or four
teams make the playoffs. What about the East? Are you
surprised that where some of the teams are struggling in Boston, Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
I mean, it's early, it's really truly, in my opinion
to look at standings are just we're just trying to
keep our head down and keep going. And I'm sure
there's a lot of good teams in the East, so
I'm sure a lot of those guys will turn it
around make it interesting coming down the stretch.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And then as you look at the National League, and
obviously you guys made it to the World Series last year,
lost to the Dodgers in five games. I know that's
your goal again, and the National League seems to have
a lot of good teams as well.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Mara goes to wind the World cheris And that's a
fun thing about New York. A lot of teams say it,
but here we mean it. We believe it. We we're
about it every single day. We don't forget it every day,
and we keep our eye on that.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
I heard the story. I guess when you guys got
your American League Championship rings. John Carlostan was like, this
is this is this isn't the ring we were looking for?
Is that how you felt to It? Still was a
nice ring, wasn't it.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
Yeah? I mean that's I'm a mentor for friends and
family if they want to see it, but to us,
it's not enough.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
All right.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Trent Grisham joining us here on Inside the Parker Man,
Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Continued success this season.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
Thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
It's the Gambler here, vice president of operations.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
For mlbbro dot Com and executive producer of the MLB
bro Show podcast the Mixtape.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
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Speaker 7 (11:56):
Every Friday, we.
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Speaker 3 (12:21):
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Speaker 3 (13:39):
Wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
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.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Old or new. Now, let's welcome in Kyle Williams.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
He's the Chicago White Sox beat writer for the Chicago
Sun Times. And thanks for joining us, Kyle, here on
the program. What's happening?
Speaker 8 (14:03):
No, thanks for having me. I'm happy to be on
and it should be a good conversation.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
No doubt. All right, let's start here.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
We know all about the losing with the White Sox,
but on Tuesday night against the Tigers, they get a
big time win and they end a franchise record eleven game.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Losing streak at home. I mean, my god, is that terrible.
People had to be relieved a little bit and sew
up the players right.
Speaker 8 (14:28):
Oh absolutely, I mean I've been a part I've seen
a lot of losing post games, and they were definitely happy,
Like the music was blasting in the clubhouse yesterday and
they were definitely happy to snap that losing streak and
get a win. And it's no coincidence that comes with,
you know, Shane Smith on the mound having one of
his better starts. But you know, when you look at
(14:49):
Great Field day in and day out, it's not a
lot of fans there. More times than not, it's more
fans of the opposing team there. So I know that
the White Sox fans that do attend were happy to
see the team get not only just get a win,
but like a decisive victory as well.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
I was gonna ask you about the fan interest and whatnot.
I mean, teams go through stretches. I mean, we could
say a lot of bad stuff about the White Sox
the last few years, but a lot of teams haven't
won a World Series in the last twenty years, and
the White Sox have. I know that's a long time ago,
but where's the fan interest?
Speaker 8 (15:24):
Yeah, I think it's more apathetic than anything and frustration
like that. You mentioned that, you know, they have the
zero five World Series and they're celebrating. I believe it's
been twenty years since that World Series this year, so
they've been the organization's been celebrating those players and everything.
And then for me just seeing observing it. It's just
a reminder of just how bad things have gotten, you know,
(15:46):
just how things have fallen off the rails, especially when
you have the Cubs doing what they're doing on the
other side of town, being a juggernaut. The White Sox
should be one of those upper echelon teams competing year
in and year out. But because of ownership, because because
of you know, thet failures of the prior rebuild, it
just hasn't happened that way. And that's how you end
up with, you know, eleven thousand fans showing up, announced
(16:09):
fans showing up on Monday night and an even smaller
crowd on Tuesday. And so when you have those, you know,
the apathy setting in, you have how bad and poor
they are on the field. It's on the organization to
sell the fans on their vision. And you know, you're
starting to see somethings sprinkle in with Chase Madrov coming
up and producing, you have Edgar Carro behind the plate,
(16:31):
and you have Kyle o'teel and the Miners one of
their best prospects who's tearing it up at Triple A.
And so I think fans are going to they want
to see more of those younger players, and they're just
kind of ready to turn the page from last year's
you know, disappointment.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Our guest as Kyle Williams. He covers the White Sox
for the Chicago Sun Times. I know you briefly mentioned
uh Shane Smith, who pitched five and the third school
lest innings in that win against the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Just to us about Shane.
Speaker 8 (17:01):
Yeah, he was a Rule five draft pick that the
Socks chose last year and they really saw they could
that they could unlock his you know, velocity and give
him a chance in the rotation. He was kind of
an unknown coming into spring training, but he's burst onto
the scene is their best pitcher. You know, his fastball
at the top of the zone is a weapon. His
changeup has been garnered a lot of attention, and even
(17:24):
yesterday he threw the most curveballs then he has in
the start this season. So you he's starting to show
you that he can adapt as well as leaning into
his strains. And he's just been one of the revelations
in a rotation that you know, is pretty inexperienced. You know,
after Martin foreswent, Dwan With left for arm tightness. There
really isn't an established veteran in the rotation until Adrian
(17:45):
Houser came aboard last you know, last week, and so
Shane Smith has probably been everything they wanted and more.
They really liked the makeup of him. He seems like
one of those guys who is pretty unflappable. He's gonna,
you know, whether it's defensive miscues, He's just focus on
what he's doing and what he can do, and he's
showing that he can adapt and add more to his
arsenal as well.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
How about Luis Robert Jr. I mean, he's going through
some funk.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
It's already been announced from the White Sox manager that
he's not going to play on Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
He didn't play Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
His last fourteen at bats, he's hit list with nine strikeouts.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
What's going on.
Speaker 8 (18:28):
It's just a guy who's looking lost at the play
quite frankly. I mean, he had back to back three
strikeout performances against the Orioles last weekend. He just looks
like a guy who doesn't know when to swing, what
not to swing.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Gut.
Speaker 8 (18:41):
It just looks out of sorts, which is why will
Ventable gave him you know, the two days to kind
of reset, refocus and see if he can find something,
because it hasn't been the problem with Luisa's It hasn't
just been this year that he's struggling. It's been for
the better part of two years now. Even last year
he had immnt struggles.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
You know, the power.
Speaker 8 (18:59):
He was built as a five tool player, but the
power hasn't shown up in a long time on a
consistent basis since you know, that twenty twenty three season,
which is arguably one of the best in Sox history.
But he just you know, he talked to us a
couple of weeks ago, and he thinks he can still
be the player he was in twenty twenty three. But
he's admitted that, you know, he's just when you're going
(19:19):
up to the play, he's not as sure of himself
as he has been in the past, and that he's
just missing pitches that he used to do damage on.
And so I think when you look at Luis, you
see a player who's just kind of searching for his
confidence at this point.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
And last thing here, not that I would assume that
the White Sox have a lot of players that people
would want at the trade deadline. But if there was
one guy who maybe could get moved to would.
Speaker 8 (19:45):
That be I would say Steven Wilson. You know, he's
a right hander in the bullpen, six', Four he has
believe a two point SIXTEEN era this, year and every
team is looking for bullpen. Help every team is looking
ways to augment their ball find guys who can get
out in the middle, of you, know middle of, games
And Steven wilson has been probably their most dependable, reliever
(20:08):
him And Mike, bassel and you, Know i'm not sure
how much they can fesch For Steven. Wilson and when
you're a Talent barreon roster like The White, sox you
can try and get any lottery ticket prospect you can.
Get AND i, think you, know, teams contending teams especially
are gonna be looking At Steven wilson as a guy
who you, know is producing for A White sox team
that doesn't have much going for. It maybe he can
(20:29):
benefit from playing in you, know more high pressurized. Games
but he's a guy who you, know is, fastball he's really,
established and he's a guy who teams could probably look
to trade for at the trade.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Deadline his name.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Is Kyle, williams one of the best new young baseball
beat writers out, there one of my favorite. People thank
you for joining the, podcast, man and we'll see you
out at the.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Ballpark Thanks, Kyle thank.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
You thanks for having.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Me in case you, Missed Rob parker on THE Mlb
networks his latest appearance On Pam Albina.
Speaker 7 (21:04):
All, right Showdown.
Speaker 9 (21:05):
Time Rob parker joins a little earlier this. Week, rob
great to have you. Back Brian kenny, Here how are
you always?
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Great Bk how are you?
Speaker 7 (21:12):
Excellent we just.
Speaker 9 (21:13):
Did a whole thing on The tigers best record in.
Baseball let me guess you're not sold, Right.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I'm not SOLD i don't want to be a debbie
down or to everybody In detroit The.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Tigers, no that's not your.
Speaker 7 (21:26):
Nature it's totally that is, you b K.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Hey first of.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
All they have a one game lead over The yankees
in the lost.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Column they played more games than The. Yankees, Okay number.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Two yankees have had a ton of, injuries including the
Ace Stanton Jazz.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
CHISM i can go on and, on and number, three
that's how it.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Works they've gotten fat off of the bad team against
like The, angels The White sox and uh's the other
bat and The orioles did thirteen and one against those.
Teams that's why The tigers have that, record is, guardy it's,
fat it's. Bulging it's because you're beasting on those, teams
(22:12):
which is, fine they were on the, schedule BUT i
think that it throws people off into thinking how great they.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Are B.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
K it was only about a week or ten days
ago they had a four game series In detroit Against
cleveland and they lost three out of four at home To.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
Cleveland cleveland's a good.
Speaker 9 (22:28):
Club cleveland's a second place. Club by the, way they
were twenty seven and twenty against all the rest of the.
Teams And baltimore is not some pathetic little squad like
you know it's it's It's.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
Baltimore they're they're decent this.
Speaker 9 (22:39):
Year they are, yeah and they're, well and they're going
to get a steady diet of The White.
Speaker 7 (22:44):
Sox that's their.
Speaker 9 (22:45):
Division so that's how Our they're not completely wrong on.
That you're mostly they're a good. Club Rob they're a good.
Club it's a playoff. Team i'm not saying that The
yea and The yankees are hobbinboo can you say, About,
oh The yankees have. Injuries stanton is. Injured oh what a?
Shock And cole is out for the. Season we know that,
Already so it is what it. Is The yankees would
have been more powerful With cole or, heel they don't have,
(23:08):
them so it is what it.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Is, Right But i'm saying they are only one game
behind The tigers in the lost. Column so as great
as The tigers are playing.
Speaker 9 (23:16):
Their number two payroll team or number three payroll, team
they're a.
Speaker 7 (23:19):
Monster they're The. Yankees they're a.
Speaker 9 (23:20):
Juggernaut they're a little, hobbled And i'm saying The tigers
are and The tigers are a better tournament. Team, YEAH
i think you have to, admit like the way they
come at you in, WAVES i could see them being
better in the postseason than The. Yankees they're more equipped
to play that.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
GAME i don't see The tigers getting to The World.
SERIES i think The yankees have a better. SHOT i
don't see The tigers in that.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Spot it's.
Speaker 9 (23:42):
CLOSE i think it's very, close and we wouldn't have expected.
That all, right sho Heeo tani having a monster.
Speaker 7 (23:47):
Year do you have a?
Speaker 9 (23:48):
CRITIQUE i understand you have some sort of critique on
this monster.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
YEAR i, mean you know, WHAT.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Bk SOMETIMES i look at his stats AND i think
he has more home runs than he HAS.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Rbi that can't.
Speaker 7 (24:02):
Happen but, okay, yeah but you realize that's.
Speaker 9 (24:06):
A product of his. Teammates, right he's slugging six sixty.
Speaker 7 (24:09):
One all, Right, WELL.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
K can we move him down in the.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
LINEUP i understand That dodgers want him to get an
extra at bat batting him. Leadoff he was not a
leadoff hitter, before and he went to the free doos
spot out of a necessity When Mookie betts was heard,
right and he just wind up keeping him. There it's
ridiculous for you Show hey to continue to hit all
these home runs with nobody on.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Base i'm, SORRY i gotta move him down in the.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Lineup it doesn't make sense if you're telling me that
the bottom of the order can't get on, base and
the only time he's going to hit a home run
is when nobody's on.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Base it's a. Waste he can hit home.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Runs with the bags filled with people on. Base you
got to make an, Adjustment.
Speaker 9 (24:51):
Rob at the risk of blowing the. Segment you're, right you're,
absolutely it's. Essential like it's it's a very new agy.
Thing we're gonna put our best hitter leading off when
we're only a few years into you, know baseball recognizing
that the best hitter should hit second and not third or. Fourth,
however you're, right lead. Off you leave a lot of
(25:13):
runs on the table by having a guy leading off
the leadoff. Spot even in THE dh era faces fewer
men on.
Speaker 7 (25:21):
Base it's a decent. Gap and he's a six sixty.
Speaker 9 (25:24):
Slugger they're leaving runs on the. Board they're leaving runs
on the.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
Table you're.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Right twenty three home runs and thirty nine, RBIs i, mean.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Just that is not good.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Enough and he had one hundred and thirty RBIs last.
Speaker 9 (25:38):
Year there runs at at an enormous. Pace that's that's
the trade. Off But i'll say, this if it was
a weaker, club you could, say, well who's gonna lead?
Off they got lots of guys that can. Hit Will
smith has got four to forty five on. Base he's a,
CATCHER i, know but so what if we're doing this
where sluggers can lead, off your catcher can lead off
with a monstross on.
Speaker 7 (25:56):
Base he's only slugging five. Hundred That's Will.
Speaker 9 (25:58):
Smith you could lead him, Off Oh tani batting second
would be driving In smith left and right.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
ONE i love that a lot better than where we
are now with The. DODGERS i just think it's a.
Speaker 7 (26:10):
Way are you you?
Speaker 9 (26:10):
KNOW i Think i'm with you on this. Too i'm
still a tad disappointed in The. Dodgers While i'm, recognizing
even hobbled all these, injuries they're still pretty. Good they
almost wipe The yankees out of the whole, weekend, right
and and Yet i'm still.
Speaker 7 (26:25):
Somewhat are you still somewhat disappointed in?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Them they were supposed to be The. Beatles it didn't
turn out to be that. Way they started the season
eight and oh and since then they're twenty eight and twenty,
four middle of a road that's not that is.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
That special with some of the. Players Twenty freeman's.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Batting nine hundred forty five home runs and they're twenty
eight and.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Twenty that's not.
Speaker 9 (26:50):
Good if they're not The. BEATLES i Was Joe madden
said In. Japan The dodgers were The? Beatles are they The?
Kinks The kinks were? Good all, Right we'll take The
King The kinks, said The King kings are really, good,
right they're not The? BEATLES a Right National LEAGUE? Mvp all,
right who do you? Now you understand you're not Going?
Otani what a? Shock where you're?
Speaker 10 (27:09):
Going, No i'm not you know, What i'll go with
his Teammate Freddy, freeman who had an unbelievable may bet
at for ten, yep and you, know and he.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Keeps getting it. Done he's like fine.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Wine he continues the age and he's a big part
of that. Lineup he's doing a lot of things driving it.
RUNS i like Where Freddy freeman is right. Now and
there's no disrespect To.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
Oldtani wef you.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Have noa's having a really good. Season BUT i would
Take Freddy freeman at this, Point.
Speaker 9 (27:39):
Rob you're not wrong, Again i'm going to essentially agree with.
Speaker 7 (27:42):
You he.
Speaker 9 (27:43):
Said look he's got look at his NOMB i ran
the slash line For, Freeman o'tani And Pete Crow armstrong
Because Freddy freeman is hitting three sixty eight within a
four thirty five on.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
Base that's a serious.
Speaker 9 (27:54):
Number he's slugging six twenty, one the one ninety one
you see weighted run screen and plus there one, Hundred Isle,
Gaverage freeman leads all of. Baseball he's the best hitter in.
BASEBALL i only throw war in. THERE i don't want
to look at war like two months. In, However pete Crow,
Armstrong i'll say That, Freeman i'm. Fine if you're and
down the, Road freeman is more likely to be THE.
(28:14):
MVP i don't Think pete Crow armstrong can carry a
five to sixty slugging. Percentage, However pete Crow armstrong is
the number one based runner in. Baseball he is the
number one fielder in, baseball and he's slugging five to.
Sixty if it's stopped, now you'd have to give it to.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Him, Yeah and the problem is we have to see long.
TERM i agree that if he continues those, numbers WHICH
i don't believe that will.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Happen i'm not saying he's going to fall off a.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Cliff But Freddie freeman And shohy have longer track.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Records sure you know that they can sustain it for
a long.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Season we're two months, in we got four months to,
go you.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Know So i'm not going to discount what he's.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Done BUT i just think That Freddie, freeman, Right now
IF i have, VOTE i had to vote, tomorrow it
would Be.
Speaker 9 (29:04):
Freddy, YEAH i go. Again season. Stopped NOW i GO
pca down the. Road it's Probably freddy With otani right?
THERE i, think what do we agree on?
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Everything, yeah this is a bad. SEGMENT i, mean what's
going on with? YOU?
Speaker 4 (29:16):
Bk this is.
Speaker 9 (29:17):
Well, no you were wrong on The, tigers But, otani
you're right leading.
Speaker 7 (29:22):
OFF i wonder at.
Speaker 9 (29:23):
One, POINT i, think at some POINT i can't See
dodgers baseball ops. Going we got a guy slugging six
sixty leading off and THE rbi, thing that's, real there's
not as many men on. Base Rob, parker you're. Right
i'm gonna say that three two, One, Rob you're.
Speaker 7 (29:38):
Right how's?
Speaker 2 (29:38):
That?
Speaker 3 (29:39):
DUDE A.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Bk i've only been covering baseball for thirty nine, years
give me like just thirty.
Speaker 7 (29:45):
Nine give me. Credit good, Job, rob great, Stuff thank
you so.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Much, no this is.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Bloading it's The parker. Pushback shut the. Here rob tackles
the outlandish takes In Major league. Baseball you, idiot shut up.
Today i'm pushing back on all the people have.
Speaker 4 (30:04):
Been crying forever that Major League baseball is a regional
sport is not a. Naginewsport look at THE tv. Ratings guess.
What all sports are really.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Regional but we're gonna finally see this year with THE
nba just how regional THE nba is because THE Nba
finals kicks off On, thursday and you have two very
small Markets Oklahoma City thunder The Indiana, pacers and many
are expecting this to be one of the lowest, rated
(30:38):
if not the lowest RATED Nba. Finals because the NBA's regional,
too people care about their, teams so when the big
markets are out like The knicks and The lakers and The,
celtics THOSE nba fans and those cities have very little
interests in The thunder or The. Pacers same thing in,
(31:01):
baseball and THE nfl has always been regional, too from
this standpoint that you only see your team in your,
area so it's always been a regional broadcast on A.
Sunday it's not broadcast across the entire. Country if you're In,
detroit you see The Detroit lions. Game if you're In
New york you see The giants or The jets game ON.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Tv and the national, games, yes they do really well
with the ratings because it's just doesn't happen that.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Often, it's you, know once a. Week it's something to
gear up. For so all sports are, regional it's not just.
Baseball I'm Rob parker and that's my.
Speaker 11 (31:49):
Pushback in the words Of New YORK tv legend the
Late Bill, jorgensen thanking you for your, time this time
until next.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Time Rob parker out d can't get.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
It this could be an inside Of.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Parker see you next, week same bat, time same bat.
Speaker 8 (32:10):
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 fifty seven, Rob Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Come on, I've been covering Major League baseball for almost
forty years now, in New York.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
In Cincinnati, in Detroit, in LA. I love this game.
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker. What
a show we have for you today. Coming up, we'll
talk with New York Yankee center fielder Trent Grisham and
his amazing start to the twenty twenty five season. Also,
we'll check in on the White Sox with Kyle Williams.
He writes and covers the White Sox for the Chicago
(00:58):
Sun Times.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Plus we'll have a little pushback that and much more.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Let's go better up to lead off, it's getting rocked
and keep them on.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Rob's hot take on.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
The three biggest stories in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Number one, stop the presses.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
The Colorado Rockies, just that awful baseball team in Denver
finally won a series they had gone twenty two straight
series without winning one, and finally they've won a series,
winning the first two games against the Miami Marlins. My goodness, gracious.
Even so, coming into Wednesday they were a league worse
(01:40):
eleven and fifty.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
They will no.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Doubt set the record for the most losses in a
Major League Baseball season. It's unbelievable how bad the Rockies are,
and something has to be done. They should not be
this bad, and they have to get better, and they
have to spend money on this team.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Denver's a big time city. I've seen that ballpart.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
In fact, a little history info, I actually covered the
first Colorado Rockies game in baseball history. They played the
Mets when I was writing for Newsday. I do remember that,
and man, they've had a lot of great moments there
in that park and in that town.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
But this is pretty bad. Something has to be done
with the Rockies.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Number two.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
The numbers are horrific for Pirates Ace Paul skeins, and
not from his standpoint, but from the team standpoint.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Are you ready?
Speaker 2 (02:38):
In his last five starts, where he's only allowed four
earned runs in thirty four and two thirds innings.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
He's one and two, did you hear me?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
And the Pirates are two and three.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
He's given up four earned runs in thirty four point
two innings, and he now has had two games where
he's pitched eight plus innings, allowed zero in one game
runs ear runs and one in the other, and has
allowed fewer than three hits in either of those starts.
(03:15):
So you cannot pitch any better. But there's no offense there.
I know, pretty bad, but I'm still gonna say this.
As much as the Pirates need as far as players,
and they can get a haul for Paul Skins. I
think twenty teams in Major League Baseball would put a
package together and give up prospects, top prospects to get
(03:38):
Paul Skins on their team. It would be a bidding
war for this guy. But they can't trade him. The
Pirates cannot trade. They got to build around him. They
gotta go get some offense. They got to get in
the free agency. They have to. I saw this happen
in Detroit after a long drivet justin Berlanders showed up
(04:02):
and he was the starting point, and then they got
other pieces.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
They went and got Miguel Cabrera and paid them big money.
Maglio Ordoniez. I could go on and on.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
The Tigers just started going on a spending spree and
getting players and guess what, they sold out the ballpark.
They went to the World Series. They were in the
playoffs every year. Yes, it can be done. Ownership has
to do this. Do not trade Paulski.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Number Three. All we hear is.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
That the numbers in sports television are going down.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Right.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
NBA had its little downward spiral.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
NFL, you know, it's still a juggernaut, but some of
the numbers maybe not as good as they have been
in the past, things of that nature. But guess what,
the news from Major League Baseball is really good, so
good that I'm gonna have to put my glasses on
so that I don't botch this. The numbers are pretty amazing,
(05:00):
and that came out recently.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
This year versus last year.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Fox up ten percent, ESPN up twenty two percent, Turner
up sixteen percent. How about in this demographic at Turner
is up sixty nine percent between eighteen and thirty four.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Those are the young people you're looking for. That's great news.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
MLB Network up thirteen percent, MLB TV up twenty seven percent. NHK,
which is the Japanese network up twenty two percent. I mean,
these are numbers. If you're the commissioner, you have to
be happy with. And this has been a trend for
the last couple of years. We know that since the
(05:44):
rule changes, games are faster, they move along, and we
have so many young stars in baseball to watch as
a baseball fan.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Every team has a couple of them. I just mentioned
Paul Skins in Pittsburgh, right, Like, these teams have some really,
really good young players out there, and so this is
good for baseball. The numbers are encouraging. We've even seen
growth in the streaming stuff, social media stuff. Baseball's on
the uptick. It's a good thing to see.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn. It's so good.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Now let's welcome into the podcast. Tran Grisham, of course,
centerfielder for the New York Yankees. Trying to thank for
joining us.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Yeah, thanks for having me, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
What a great start to the season for you and
the Yankees. Let's talk about your team first, and just
you got some bad news right away, Garrett Cole. You
lose your ace. You know, some other injuries going on
with some players and whatnot. And yet this team has
been able to persevere. Just talk about the start for
this team.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Yeah, it's been a really good start. Yeah, tough news
to begin, but we knew we had a deep pitching
staff the entire time, and a lot of guys have
stepped up. Warren stepped up big time, obviously, Max's throwing
the ball well, Carlos strolling the ball well, Yardborough is
stepping up out of the bend and helping us out
when Stro went down. Like it's just been like kind
of top to bottom. Everybody's really stepping up after that
(07:14):
bad news. But yeah, the offense has been doing their
thing too, So yeah, it's been a really good start.
Looking forward to keep it going.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
We talked about Max Freed and been incredible seven and one.
The Yankees are ten and two in the games that
he started. Just talk about coming to New York, the pressure,
you lose your ace, you gotta fill in, you gotta
hold everything together. Like that's a big step. We got
the big contract. There's a lot of pressure there. Maxis
(07:43):
seemed to handle it.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Yeah, he's got a good temperament for it. Very calm
dude and relaxed dude overall. So yeah, and you can
tell her just he really cares about going out there
and competing every day. So I think that's really what
separates him and has allowed him to get off to
this really good start.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Let's talk about you on your start, a real hot
start for the Yankees, home runs, doing everything. Just how
did you feel coming into the season and your ex
What were your expectations.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
I didn't really have any expectations other than what I
was doing preparing mentally, had a good foundation over the
last two years. I just got to a bad spot
in San Diego mentally and how I was preparing. So
really last year, sat down, last two op seasons ago,
sat down and said, hey, I need to I need
(08:33):
to turn it around. Put in a lot of good
work last year. Was it physical?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Mental? What?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
What?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
What? What did you say well to yourself? Was it
things you needed to work on or do better or
was it just something mentally?
Speaker 5 (08:45):
I just needed to think better. So I just made
it a real emphasis the two op seasons ago and
put in a lot of good work last year, not
playing a lot, but on the side lines, behind the scenes,
putting a lot of good work in and then just
kind of building on that.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
How about your power, the home run power. Yankee Stayum's
a good place for it as well. But do you
have a mindset about hitting home runs? Is it just
naturally trying to hit the ball hard and somewhere, or
are you trying to hit home runs?
Speaker 5 (09:19):
No, I'm really trying to hit a line drive to
left center every single time, and whatever happens after that,
I'm good with as long as I keep my mind
on that.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Our guess is Trent Chrisham joining us here on inside
the Parker. You mentioned San Diego before, talk about playing
a difference between playing in the Bronx and playing in
San Diego. San Diego has a beautiful ballpark. Yankee Stadium,
of course is beautiful as well.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
Just the differences, I'll just say the overall it's kind
of polar opposites and everywhere. Obviously good fans of both
and a blast to play in both places, but just
I'd say the personality of the cities are completely opposite.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
One is laid back and one is in bustle, right.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
And then obviously the coast opposite ends of the coast.
I mean, it was just kind of opposite in a
lot of ways. But playing for both has been a
lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
This team has a big lead, the biggest lead of
any division leader, and a lot of the divisions are
pretty close in different teams in the American League, other
teams you see the Tigers are off to a good start.
The Central looks like possibly could have three or four
teams make the playoffs. What about the East? Are you
surprised that where some of the teams are struggling in Boston, Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
I mean, it's early, it's really truly, in my opinion
to look at standings are just we're just trying to
keep our head down and keep going. And I'm sure
there's a lot of good teams in the East, so
I'm sure a lot of those guys will turn it
around make it interesting coming down the stretch.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And then as you look at the National League, and
obviously you guys made it to the World Series last year,
lost to the Dodgers in five games. I know that's
your goal again, and the National League seems to have
a lot of good teams as well.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Mara goes to wind the World cheris And that's a
fun thing about New York. A lot of teams say it,
but here we mean it. We believe it. We we're
about it every single day. We don't forget it every day,
and we keep our eye on that.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
I heard the story. I guess when you guys got
your American League Championship rings. John Carlostan was like, this
is this is this isn't the ring we were looking for?
Is that how you felt to It? Still was a
nice ring, wasn't it.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
Yeah? I mean that's I'm a mentor for friends and
family if they want to see it, but to us,
it's not enough.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
All right.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Trent Grisham joining us here on Inside the Parker Man,
Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Continued success this season.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
Thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
It's the Gambler here, vice president of operations.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
For mlbbro dot Com and executive producer of the MLB
bro Show podcast the Mixtape.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 7 (11:56):
Every Friday, we.
Speaker 6 (11:58):
Bring you the best from the world 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 into baseball.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
Betts, 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 Grubb,
the Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the walk Off, and
Going Deep, just the name a few of the segments
(12:43):
that truly capture the voice of Black baseball. 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 the
Negro leagues. I the Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker,
(13:08):
making sure that you stay on top of the game
and in touch with the soul of MLB, fucking up
for a wild baseball journey, showing respect to the Ogs,
and highlighting the new breed of melanated Malma Rode first
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(13:31):
Listen to the MLB bro Show podcast the Mixtape on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
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.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Old or new. Now, let's welcome in Kyle Williams.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
He's the Chicago White Sox beat writer for the Chicago
Sun Times. And thanks for joining us, Kyle, here on
the program. What's happening?
Speaker 8 (14:03):
No, thanks for having me. I'm happy to be on
and it should be a good conversation.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
No doubt. All right, let's start here.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
We know all about the losing with the White Sox,
but on Tuesday night against the Tigers, they get a
big time win and they end a franchise record eleven game.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Losing streak at home. I mean, my god, is that terrible.
People had to be relieved a little bit and sew
up the players right.
Speaker 8 (14:28):
Oh absolutely, I mean I've been a part I've seen
a lot of losing post games, and they were definitely happy,
Like the music was blasting in the clubhouse yesterday and
they were definitely happy to snap that losing streak and
get a win. And it's no coincidence that comes with,
you know, Shane Smith on the mound having one of
his better starts. But you know, when you look at
(14:49):
Great Field day in and day out, it's not a
lot of fans there. More times than not, it's more
fans of the opposing team there. So I know that
the White Sox fans that do attend were happy to
see the team get not only just get a win,
but like a decisive victory as well.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
I was gonna ask you about the fan interest and whatnot.
I mean, teams go through stretches. I mean, we could
say a lot of bad stuff about the White Sox
the last few years, but a lot of teams haven't
won a World Series in the last twenty years, and
the White Sox have. I know that's a long time ago,
but where's the fan interest?
Speaker 8 (15:24):
Yeah, I think it's more apathetic than anything and frustration
like that. You mentioned that, you know, they have the
zero five World Series and they're celebrating. I believe it's
been twenty years since that World Series this year, so
they've been the organization's been celebrating those players and everything.
And then for me just seeing observing it. It's just
a reminder of just how bad things have gotten, you know,
(15:46):
just how things have fallen off the rails, especially when
you have the Cubs doing what they're doing on the
other side of town, being a juggernaut. The White Sox
should be one of those upper echelon teams competing year
in and year out. But because of ownership, because because
of you know, thet failures of the prior rebuild, it
just hasn't happened that way. And that's how you end
up with, you know, eleven thousand fans showing up, announced
(16:09):
fans showing up on Monday night and an even smaller
crowd on Tuesday. And so when you have those, you know,
the apathy setting in, you have how bad and poor
they are on the field. It's on the organization to
sell the fans on their vision. And you know, you're
starting to see somethings sprinkle in with Chase Madrov coming
up and producing, you have Edgar Carro behind the plate,
(16:31):
and you have Kyle o'teel and the Miners one of
their best prospects who's tearing it up at Triple A.
And so I think fans are going to they want
to see more of those younger players, and they're just
kind of ready to turn the page from last year's
you know, disappointment.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Our guest as Kyle Williams. He covers the White Sox
for the Chicago Sun Times. I know you briefly mentioned
uh Shane Smith, who pitched five and the third school
lest innings in that win against the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Just to us about Shane.
Speaker 8 (17:01):
Yeah, he was a Rule five draft pick that the
Socks chose last year and they really saw they could
that they could unlock his you know, velocity and give
him a chance in the rotation. He was kind of
an unknown coming into spring training, but he's burst onto
the scene is their best pitcher. You know, his fastball
at the top of the zone is a weapon. His
changeup has been garnered a lot of attention, and even
(17:24):
yesterday he threw the most curveballs then he has in
the start this season. So you he's starting to show
you that he can adapt as well as leaning into
his strains. And he's just been one of the revelations
in a rotation that you know, is pretty inexperienced. You know,
after Martin foreswent, Dwan With left for arm tightness. There
really isn't an established veteran in the rotation until Adrian
(17:45):
Houser came aboard last you know, last week, and so
Shane Smith has probably been everything they wanted and more.
They really liked the makeup of him. He seems like
one of those guys who is pretty unflappable. He's gonna,
you know, whether it's defensive miscues, He's just focus on
what he's doing and what he can do, and he's
showing that he can adapt and add more to his
arsenal as well.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
How about Luis Robert Jr. I mean, he's going through
some funk.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
It's already been announced from the White Sox manager that
he's not going to play on Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
He didn't play Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
His last fourteen at bats, he's hit list with nine strikeouts.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
What's going on.
Speaker 8 (18:28):
It's just a guy who's looking lost at the play
quite frankly. I mean, he had back to back three
strikeout performances against the Orioles last weekend. He just looks
like a guy who doesn't know when to swing, what
not to swing.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Gut.
Speaker 8 (18:41):
It just looks out of sorts, which is why will
Ventable gave him you know, the two days to kind
of reset, refocus and see if he can find something,
because it hasn't been the problem with Luisa's It hasn't
just been this year that he's struggling. It's been for
the better part of two years now. Even last year
he had immnt struggles.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
You know, the power.
Speaker 8 (18:59):
He was built as a five tool player, but the
power hasn't shown up in a long time on a
consistent basis since you know, that twenty twenty three season,
which is arguably one of the best in Sox history.
But he just you know, he talked to us a
couple of weeks ago, and he thinks he can still
be the player he was in twenty twenty three. But
he's admitted that, you know, he's just when you're going
(19:19):
up to the play, he's not as sure of himself
as he has been in the past, and that he's
just missing pitches that he used to do damage on.
And so I think when you look at Luis, you
see a player who's just kind of searching for his
confidence at this point.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
And last thing here, not that I would assume that
the White Sox have a lot of players that people
would want at the trade deadline. But if there was
one guy who maybe could get moved to would.
Speaker 8 (19:45):
That be I would say Steven Wilson. You know, he's
a right hander in the bullpen, six', Four he has
believe a two point SIXTEEN era this, year and every
team is looking for bullpen. Help every team is looking
ways to augment their ball find guys who can get
out in the middle, of you, know middle of, games
And Steven wilson has been probably their most dependable, reliever
(20:08):
him And Mike, bassel and you, Know i'm not sure
how much they can fesch For Steven. Wilson and when
you're a Talent barreon roster like The White, sox you
can try and get any lottery ticket prospect you can.
Get AND i, think you, know, teams contending teams especially
are gonna be looking At Steven wilson as a guy
who you, know is producing for A White sox team
that doesn't have much going for. It maybe he can
(20:29):
benefit from playing in you, know more high pressurized. Games
but he's a guy who you, know is, fastball he's really,
established and he's a guy who teams could probably look
to trade for at the trade.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Deadline his name.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Is Kyle, williams one of the best new young baseball
beat writers out, there one of my favorite. People thank
you for joining the, podcast, man and we'll see you
out at the.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Ballpark Thanks, Kyle thank.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
You thanks for having.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Me in case you, Missed Rob parker on THE Mlb
networks his latest appearance On Pam Albina.
Speaker 7 (21:04):
All, right Showdown.
Speaker 9 (21:05):
Time Rob parker joins a little earlier this. Week, rob
great to have you. Back Brian kenny, Here how are
you always?
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Great Bk how are you?
Speaker 7 (21:12):
Excellent we just.
Speaker 9 (21:13):
Did a whole thing on The tigers best record in.
Baseball let me guess you're not sold, Right.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I'm not SOLD i don't want to be a debbie
down or to everybody In detroit The.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Tigers, no that's not your.
Speaker 7 (21:26):
Nature it's totally that is, you b K.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Hey first of.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
All they have a one game lead over The yankees
in the lost.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Column they played more games than The. Yankees, Okay number.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Two yankees have had a ton of, injuries including the
Ace Stanton Jazz.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
CHISM i can go on and, on and number, three
that's how it.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Works they've gotten fat off of the bad team against
like The, angels The White sox and uh's the other
bat and The orioles did thirteen and one against those.
Teams that's why The tigers have that, record is, guardy it's,
fat it's. Bulging it's because you're beasting on those, teams
(22:12):
which is, fine they were on the, schedule BUT i
think that it throws people off into thinking how great they.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Are B.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
K it was only about a week or ten days
ago they had a four game series In detroit Against
cleveland and they lost three out of four at home To.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
Cleveland cleveland's a good.
Speaker 9 (22:28):
Club cleveland's a second place. Club by the, way they
were twenty seven and twenty against all the rest of the.
Teams And baltimore is not some pathetic little squad like
you know it's it's It's.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
Baltimore they're they're decent this.
Speaker 9 (22:39):
Year they are, yeah and they're, well and they're going
to get a steady diet of The White.
Speaker 7 (22:44):
Sox that's their.
Speaker 9 (22:45):
Division so that's how Our they're not completely wrong on.
That you're mostly they're a good. Club Rob they're a good.
Club it's a playoff. Team i'm not saying that The
yea and The yankees are hobbinboo can you say, About,
oh The yankees have. Injuries stanton is. Injured oh what a?
Shock And cole is out for the. Season we know that,
Already so it is what it. Is The yankees would
have been more powerful With cole or, heel they don't have,
(23:08):
them so it is what it.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Is, Right But i'm saying they are only one game
behind The tigers in the lost. Column so as great
as The tigers are playing.
Speaker 9 (23:16):
Their number two payroll team or number three payroll, team
they're a.
Speaker 7 (23:19):
Monster they're The. Yankees they're a.
Speaker 9 (23:20):
Juggernaut they're a little, hobbled And i'm saying The tigers
are and The tigers are a better tournament. Team, YEAH
i think you have to, admit like the way they
come at you in, WAVES i could see them being
better in the postseason than The. Yankees they're more equipped
to play that.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
GAME i don't see The tigers getting to The World.
SERIES i think The yankees have a better. SHOT i
don't see The tigers in that.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Spot it's.
Speaker 9 (23:42):
CLOSE i think it's very, close and we wouldn't have expected.
That all, right sho Heeo tani having a monster.
Speaker 7 (23:47):
Year do you have a?
Speaker 9 (23:48):
CRITIQUE i understand you have some sort of critique on
this monster.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
YEAR i, mean you know, WHAT.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Bk SOMETIMES i look at his stats AND i think
he has more home runs than he HAS.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Rbi that can't.
Speaker 7 (24:02):
Happen but, okay, yeah but you realize that's.
Speaker 9 (24:06):
A product of his. Teammates, right he's slugging six sixty.
Speaker 7 (24:09):
One all, Right, WELL.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
K can we move him down in the.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
LINEUP i understand That dodgers want him to get an
extra at bat batting him. Leadoff he was not a
leadoff hitter, before and he went to the free doos
spot out of a necessity When Mookie betts was heard,
right and he just wind up keeping him. There it's
ridiculous for you Show hey to continue to hit all
these home runs with nobody on.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Base i'm, SORRY i gotta move him down in the.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Lineup it doesn't make sense if you're telling me that
the bottom of the order can't get on, base and
the only time he's going to hit a home run
is when nobody's on.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Base it's a. Waste he can hit home.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Runs with the bags filled with people on. Base you
got to make an, Adjustment.
Speaker 9 (24:51):
Rob at the risk of blowing the. Segment you're, right you're,
absolutely it's. Essential like it's it's a very new agy.
Thing we're gonna put our best hitter leading off when
we're only a few years into you, know baseball recognizing
that the best hitter should hit second and not third or. Fourth,
however you're, right lead. Off you leave a lot of
(25:13):
runs on the table by having a guy leading off
the leadoff. Spot even in THE dh era faces fewer
men on.
Speaker 7 (25:21):
Base it's a decent. Gap and he's a six sixty.
Speaker 9 (25:24):
Slugger they're leaving runs on the. Board they're leaving runs
on the.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
Table you're.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Right twenty three home runs and thirty nine, RBIs i, mean.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Just that is not good.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Enough and he had one hundred and thirty RBIs last.
Speaker 9 (25:38):
Year there runs at at an enormous. Pace that's that's
the trade. Off But i'll say, this if it was
a weaker, club you could, say, well who's gonna lead?
Off they got lots of guys that can. Hit Will
smith has got four to forty five on. Base he's a,
CATCHER i, know but so what if we're doing this
where sluggers can lead, off your catcher can lead off
with a monstross on.
Speaker 7 (25:56):
Base he's only slugging five. Hundred That's Will.
Speaker 9 (25:58):
Smith you could lead him, Off Oh tani batting second
would be driving In smith left and right.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
ONE i love that a lot better than where we
are now with The. DODGERS i just think it's a.
Speaker 7 (26:10):
Way are you you?
Speaker 9 (26:10):
KNOW i Think i'm with you on this. Too i'm
still a tad disappointed in The. Dodgers While i'm, recognizing
even hobbled all these, injuries they're still pretty. Good they
almost wipe The yankees out of the whole, weekend, right
and and Yet i'm still.
Speaker 7 (26:25):
Somewhat are you still somewhat disappointed in?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Them they were supposed to be The. Beatles it didn't
turn out to be that. Way they started the season
eight and oh and since then they're twenty eight and twenty,
four middle of a road that's not that is.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
That special with some of the. Players Twenty freeman's.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Batting nine hundred forty five home runs and they're twenty
eight and.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Twenty that's not.
Speaker 9 (26:50):
Good if they're not The. BEATLES i Was Joe madden
said In. Japan The dodgers were The? Beatles are they The?
Kinks The kinks were? Good all, Right we'll take The
King The kinks, said The King kings are really, good,
right they're not The? BEATLES a Right National LEAGUE? Mvp all,
right who do you? Now you understand you're not Going?
Otani what a? Shock where you're?
Speaker 10 (27:09):
Going, No i'm not you know, What i'll go with
his Teammate Freddy, freeman who had an unbelievable may bet
at for ten, yep and you, know and he.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Keeps getting it. Done he's like fine.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Wine he continues the age and he's a big part
of that. Lineup he's doing a lot of things driving it.
RUNS i like Where Freddy freeman is right. Now and
there's no disrespect To.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
Oldtani wef you.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Have noa's having a really good. Season BUT i would
Take Freddy freeman at this, Point.
Speaker 9 (27:39):
Rob you're not wrong, Again i'm going to essentially agree with.
Speaker 7 (27:42):
You he.
Speaker 9 (27:43):
Said look he's got look at his NOMB i ran
the slash line For, Freeman o'tani And Pete Crow armstrong
Because Freddy freeman is hitting three sixty eight within a
four thirty five on.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
Base that's a serious.
Speaker 9 (27:54):
Number he's slugging six twenty, one the one ninety one
you see weighted run screen and plus there one, Hundred Isle,
Gaverage freeman leads all of. Baseball he's the best hitter in.
BASEBALL i only throw war in. THERE i don't want
to look at war like two months. In, However pete Crow,
Armstrong i'll say That, Freeman i'm. Fine if you're and
down the, Road freeman is more likely to be THE.
(28:14):
MVP i don't Think pete Crow armstrong can carry a
five to sixty slugging. Percentage, However pete Crow armstrong is
the number one based runner in. Baseball he is the
number one fielder in, baseball and he's slugging five to.
Sixty if it's stopped, now you'd have to give it to.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Him, Yeah and the problem is we have to see long.
TERM i agree that if he continues those, numbers WHICH
i don't believe that will.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Happen i'm not saying he's going to fall off a.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Cliff But Freddie freeman And shohy have longer track.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Records sure you know that they can sustain it for
a long.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Season we're two months, in we got four months to,
go you.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Know So i'm not going to discount what he's.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Done BUT i just think That Freddie, freeman, Right now
IF i have, VOTE i had to vote, tomorrow it
would Be.
Speaker 9 (29:04):
Freddy, YEAH i go. Again season. Stopped NOW i GO
pca down the. Road it's Probably freddy With otani right?
THERE i, think what do we agree on?
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Everything, yeah this is a bad. SEGMENT i, mean what's
going on with? YOU?
Speaker 4 (29:16):
Bk this is.
Speaker 9 (29:17):
Well, no you were wrong on The, tigers But, otani
you're right leading.
Speaker 7 (29:22):
OFF i wonder at.
Speaker 9 (29:23):
One, POINT i, think at some POINT i can't See
dodgers baseball ops. Going we got a guy slugging six
sixty leading off and THE rbi, thing that's, real there's
not as many men on. Base Rob, parker you're. Right
i'm gonna say that three two, One, Rob you're.
Speaker 7 (29:38):
Right how's?
Speaker 2 (29:38):
That?
Speaker 3 (29:39):
DUDE A.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Bk i've only been covering baseball for thirty nine, years
give me like just thirty.
Speaker 7 (29:45):
Nine give me. Credit good, Job, rob great, Stuff thank
you so.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Much, no this is.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Bloading it's The parker. Pushback shut the. Here rob tackles
the outlandish takes In Major league. Baseball you, idiot shut up.
Today i'm pushing back on all the people have.
Speaker 4 (30:04):
Been crying forever that Major League baseball is a regional
sport is not a. Naginewsport look at THE tv. Ratings guess.
What all sports are really.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Regional but we're gonna finally see this year with THE
nba just how regional THE nba is because THE Nba
finals kicks off On, thursday and you have two very
small Markets Oklahoma City thunder The Indiana, pacers and many
are expecting this to be one of the lowest, rated
(30:38):
if not the lowest RATED Nba. Finals because the NBA's regional,
too people care about their, teams so when the big
markets are out like The knicks and The lakers and The,
celtics THOSE nba fans and those cities have very little
interests in The thunder or The. Pacers same thing in,
(31:01):
baseball and THE nfl has always been regional, too from
this standpoint that you only see your team in your,
area so it's always been a regional broadcast on A.
Sunday it's not broadcast across the entire. Country if you're In,
detroit you see The Detroit lions. Game if you're In
New york you see The giants or The jets game ON.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Tv and the national, games, yes they do really well
with the ratings because it's just doesn't happen that.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Often, it's you, know once a. Week it's something to
gear up. For so all sports are, regional it's not just.
Baseball I'm Rob parker and that's my.
Speaker 11 (31:49):
Pushback in the words Of New YORK tv legend the
Late Bill, jorgensen thanking you for your, time this time
until next.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Time Rob parker out d can't get.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
It this could be an inside Of.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Parker see you next, week same bat, time same bat.
Speaker 8 (32:10):
Station
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