On this week’s edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob makes his official 2025 MLB preseason World Series prediction and brings us his annual Ode to Opening Day. Plus, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell swings by to discuss his position change and how the Angels can get back on track after a few down seasons. Later, MLB Network host Brian Kenny checks in to preview the upcoming MLB season. Finally, Rob unveils his first ever Parker Pushback aimed at baseball fans who have it out for former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
From the berkshears 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):
Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker, and
what a show we have for you today. Angels centerfielder
Joe Adell will drop by. We'll talk about him his
switch to center field. Also from MLB Network and the
host of MLB Now, Brian Kenny. He'll drop by, plus
all kinds of stats information as we get you ready
(00:42):
for the twenty twenty five season in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Let's go better up to lead off, it's getting robbed
and keep them on. Rob's hot take and the three
biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I know, I know they were baseball fans who were
belly yaken about the Dodgers and the Cubs starting in
that Tokyo series in Japan. The games came on at
three am Pacific, six am Eastern. But guess what, guys,
let's be real when you have great Japanese players. There's
(01:21):
no way that baseball is going to miss an opportunity
to enhance its game and its brand to so many
Asian people all over. So when you have Otani and
Sasaki and a Hamamoto, you're going to do that. It
just makes business sense. And I understand it. Everybody wants
the opening day to be on American soil, and we'll
(01:44):
have that coming up on Thursday with Opening Day. But
we know baseball is about business and money as well,
and it's just made good business sense. Number two, the
biggest story in Major League Baseball coming into the twenty
twenty five season is it whether or not the Dodgers
(02:05):
are good or could win the World Series. I mean,
on paper, how can you not look at that team
and not think that they're not gonna win the World Series?
After all, they won and beat the Yankees last year
in five games, and they didn't have any pitching, They
had injuries, all kinds of stuff, and somehow they put
together a pitching staff with glue and tape and gum
and they won a World Series. And now they've boasted
(02:27):
their rotation. We talked about Sasaki, we talked about Otani
returning to the mound. Blake Snell was signed as a
free agent. They boasted their bullpen. It's just so many
pieces that the Dodgers now have, but they have to
beat history. And there are a lot of people surprisingly
not picking the Dodgers to win the World Series because
(02:51):
no team has repeated in twenty five years, not since
the two thousand New York Yankees. They won a ninety eight,
ninety nine, and two thousand, and when you talk about
National League teams, get this. No National League team has
repeated as a World Series champ since the nineteen seventy
five seventy six Cincinnati Reds. Is this on? Did you
(03:13):
hear that? I mean outrageous? Baseball is very weird. You
could get knocked out in the first round. You can
win one hundred and ten games like maybe the Dodgers
will and lose in a series. We've seen this team
losing a first round series when Mookie Betts and Freddie
Freeman went one for twenty one or something in the
(03:35):
series and they lost. So it's not impossible. But this
will be interesting to see how good this Dodger team
is and do they buck the trend that we know
has happened in baseball for a long time. Number three,
Here we go my twenty twenty five World Series prediction,
and I know I was wrong. I originally picked the
(03:59):
Thes and then switched over to the Yankees. I didn't
think the Dodgers had enough pitching last year in twenty
twenty four. But this year, here we go, and I
will be in that group that says the Dodgers will
not n ot make it to the World Series regard
even to try to have a chance to win and
(04:21):
to repeat. I say, something goes wrong along the way
and they do not do it, and the history of
baseball stays intact of teams not repeating over twenty five years.
So I'm gonna go with the San Diego Padres. I
know I picked the Padres all the time. Last year
they had the Dodgers down three to one and then
(04:43):
couldn't score another run and wind up getting knocked out.
I think this year they complete the job. I'm gonna
go with the Padres. Off the beaten path and another one.
I know, anybody who's followed this podcast for the last
few years, you know I always pick the Yankees and
the Padres in the World Series, and guests, I'm picking
it again. I know that they don't have one, so
(05:04):
tho I know that they don't have Garret Cole, but
thank god they signed Max Free. I mean, he's an
ace at the top of the rotation. I still when
I look at the American League, I see a lot
of flawed teams. It's hard for me to look at
the Red Sox and think they're gonna do it, or
the Baltimore Orioles or the Toronto Blue Jays because I'm
(05:26):
thinking of a team in the Al East and I
still have to go back to the Yankees, and I'm
still gonna believe that either they will play well or
go out and get something that they need at the
trade deadline to help them along. So I'm gonna pick
the Padres over the New York Yankees in the World
Series for the twenty twenty five Championship. Don't hold me
(05:49):
to it, but if I'm right, trust me, you'll know
all about it.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Number four.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
So much love for baseball started at an early age,
and my family knew how much I loved baseball, even
my mom, who was a stickler for school and about
getting your work done. But when I was in junior
high school, my mom used to write a fake doctor's
note for me so that I could leave school early,
(06:20):
so that I could get home to watch the Mets
on Opening Day. I had to see the first pitch
of the season on TV. I couldn't come home in
the third or fourth inning. I had to see it
from the beginning. And back then I was a Mets fan.
I wasn't a reporter.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I was a fan.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Opening Day that stands out to me the most dates
back to college nineteen eighty three. I was a student
at Southern Connecticut State University. Me and my three buddies.
We hopped in the car. We barely had money for tickets,
but we had to see Tom Seaver return to the Mets.
(07:02):
We drove from New Haven, Connecticut, and I can remember
standing up in our seats in the bleachers and watching
Tom Seaver walk from the bullpen and to the mound.
What a moment it was.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Right, here comes the big interview. Listen and learn.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
All right now, let's welcome in angel centerfielder Joe Adell.
Here on inside the parker. Joe, how are you?
Speaker 5 (07:37):
I'm good? How about yourself?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Great? Let's talk about Opening Day to get started. Just
how special is it you guys open in Chicago against
the White Sope.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
That's awesome. I know for me, you know, every time
I get to be on the opening day roster, it's
special to me. And you know it's a crowdit to
getting through spring and being able to you know, get
the season going and uh and start the vibes on
a high note.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Let's talk about year number six. Last year a breakout year.
Played one hundred and thirty games, over four hundred at bats,
hit twenty home runs, a lot of good stuff that
happened in twenty twenty four. Just talk about going into
twenty twenty five and what last year did for you.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
That was awesome. You know, I was glad to be
able to get you know a little over that four
hundred market. That's where I wanted to be is you know,
get forward four to five hundred at bats and really,
to me, like my defense was something that really stood
out last year. I mean, obviously the power numbers were there,
but defensively, I really went in and did what I
know I'm capable of and lockdown right field pretty good.
So coming into spring training this year, the move to
(08:39):
center field to keep Mike healthy and be able to
have him in our lineup. It's a challenge, but I'm
up for it, and you know, I'm excited to go
out and be in the center of the field and
continue to work on that defense and continue to you know,
go to the plate and do the damage that I
can do.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Says a lot about playing center field. All the great
outfielders played center field and when they came to you
with that whole idea, and I get the Mike Trout,
try to keep him in right field, keep them healthy.
But but that's an honor, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
That's awesome, you know, or the guy like Mike you
never think that he would ever leave center field, just
our legendary his career has been. But to keep him
on the field and keep that bat in the lineup,
you know, we got to do. We got to do,
and I'm glad that I'm next man up, and that's
our mentality. And so I'm excited to continue to work
through spring here and and and get that comfort level
(09:27):
right and be ready to go right into the season.
So it's an honor.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Angel centerfield to Joe Adell here on inside the parker, Uh,
center field? Is it is it different? Playing? Is it
the way the ball comes and obviously you have to
You've got to cover the gaps as well. I mean,
there's a lot more ground to cover. What's the mentality
the difference between you playing right field and centerfield.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Well, we've talked about it a good bet, you know,
in our meetings and some of the drill work that
we've done. But really for me, it's, uh, you know,
both Porter says it the best. It's hawked the baseball.
You know. For me, I'm going to go out and
try to make every play that I can, every opportunity
that the ball is in the air, you know, I'm
assuming that it's my play. And I think that's the
difference between center field and the corners is for me,
(10:10):
every ball that's in the air, that gets past the infield,
it's my job to come in and try to make
that play. And whether that's going back, whether that's coming in,
whether that's in the gaps left center or right center.
My goal is to be aggressive and go out and
get as many balls as I can and and I'm
excited about the opportunity to really get out there and
and go for it.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Are you. We talked about it. The twenty home runs
last year do you look for more power or you're
just going up trying to get good swings and if
you hit the ball right, it goes out. You're not
looking to hit home run.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Well. For me, you know, I've been blessed with the
opportunity to go out and you know, when I make
good contact, good things happen. And so I'm going to
continue to continue to go in and work on the
decision making, making good decisions at the plate and swinging
at the pitches that I can handle, and those results
will continue to show up. I don't think I I've
never been the guy to really have to reach in
the reaching the power box, you know, to really hit
(11:01):
the ball out. So for me, I'm just looking to
make good contact and pick out good bitches.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
How about the idea of having a healthy Mic Trout
in the lineup that's going to help the team? You
feel better about the team and the chances in twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
I'm excited about it, you know, obviously having Mic back
in there, it adds so much to our offense and
what we're able to do and just the flexibility of
that lineup. And I think more than anything, you know,
having you know, Brinhifa back in the mix too. I
know he was somebody that you know, had battled some injuries,
and not only that, but myself missing the last month
and a half or so of the season. So just
bringing everybody back together and getting everybody back in there,
(11:35):
We've got a new way of trying to keep the
guys on the field, and everybody's working their best to
stay healthy and do the things they need to do
to be out there every day. So I'm excited about
our lineup and the flexibility that we're going to be
able to have with some of those names coming back.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Do you have any did you set any personal goals
for yourself?
Speaker 5 (11:52):
For me, really, I want to play that I want
to play as many games as I can. My goal
really this year is to get through the entire season
and be able to be avail every day. You know
when I do that, I know the numbers. We'll take
care of themselves, and you know my availability is first,
and with that, you know good things will happen.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
All right, jo Adell, thanks for joining us here on
inside the Park. Good luck this season, all right? Thank you.
Speaker 6 (12:15):
Yes, 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 2 (12:27):
Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 6 (12:30):
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 accomplishment, clutch moments,
and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe
(12:53):
into baseball.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
Betts, Doctor k to Doctor Stick, from Bro Bombs, the
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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
(13:17):
that truly capture the voice of black baseball. If things
get out of hand is the Boss, Rob Parker, He's
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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 1 (13:36):
The negro leagues.
Speaker 6 (13:38):
I the Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, making sure
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Speaker 2 (14:01):
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Listen to the MLB bro Show podcast the Mixtape on
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App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you.
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Get your podcast.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
It's time for the Pocket Protector Centrum. The analytic numbers
you need to know?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name, BS analytics is
his game. What do you got for me?
Speaker 7 (14:29):
Anthony March Madness may be on TV, but baseball is
back baby. The Dodgers are already two wins toward what
could be an MLB record one and seventeen this season
as they try to become the first team to repeat
his champs since the ninety eight two thousand Yankees. Now,
what other big questions are we heading into in twenty
twenty five? Well, which new club could be created. In
(14:50):
the first one hundred and twenty seasons of the modern era,
only four players total reached forty homers and forty steels
in the season, but we've had two in the last
two years. Ronald Lacuna Junior created the forty seventy club
in twenty twenty three, while Shoho Tani crowned the fifty
to fifty club last year. And don't forget Jose Ramirez
was one homer shy of the forty forty club last
(15:10):
year too, before his season finale was rained out. Now,
speaking of show, hey, what does he have for an encore?
The only player to win three straight MVP Awards was
Barry Bonds from one to four. But we're also going
to get him on the mound this year, as the
last time he pitched, he had a three to fourteen
ERA and struck out eleven per nine innings won. Soto
goes Crosstown to the Mets after signing the largest contract
(15:32):
in pro sports history fifteen for seven to sixty five
as the Mets try to win their first World Series
since nineteen eighty six. Now where does that leave Soto's
former team, the Yankees? Garrett Cole out, Don Carlos Stanton out,
Rookie of the Year Luis heel Out. They made their
first World Series since O nine last year, but their
title drought is their longest since nineteen seventy nine to
(15:54):
ninety six. Now, whatever happens twenty twenty five is bound
to be historic.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto.
If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer
or broadcaster, old or new.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Now, let's welcome into the podcast. Brian Kenny, of course,
the host of MLB Now on MLB Network every day
Monday through Friday at noon Eastern, and of course every Thursday,
I get a chance to hang out with bk Welcome
to the podcast.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
How are you now, I'm your guest, that's right now,
I'm your now, I'm yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Now, you set the tone. I'll see how that goes.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
No doubt about it. Well, let's start here with the
Tokyo series. Of course, got the twenty twenty five season underway.
Dodgers win both of those games against the Cubs in Tokyo.
Just some thoughts on it.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
I mean, the Dodgers are crazy deep this year of
you know, I'm big on them year to year. They're
only people realize they're averaging one hundred and four wins
a season over the last Like I think it's eight
years and that's pro rated with the short season. So
and yet I don't know how you feel. I feel
like this is the first time they come into a
(17:12):
season with a just a stacked bullpen and a stacked rotation. Uh,
They've been great for a while obviously, and and they've
had a bunch of different versions of themselves over the
past couple of years, and the Dave Robertsira. But I mean,
they they brought back Blake Trining, then they brought in
(17:33):
Kirby Yates, they bring in Tanner Scott. They already have
the Sea and the rest of the gang.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
They're so deep.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
And then imagine if they just went out and got
Blake Snell, It'd be like, whoa, that's a big addition.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
They got Rookie Sasaki too. It's like they're so deep now.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
Yeah, the only question is, like we were I think
we have a little Dodgers fatigue because they won last year,
like they got over the top, like because it was
you know, you know, it was frustrating for them. They
were the super team and they kind of weren't winning.
They only won the one in the short season.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Maybe you blasted them for that. I think you were
among the groups say.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
This, No, I was you already do it right?
Speaker 4 (18:12):
It is not a real world series. Titlow is going,
oh rob, But now it's funny. It's almost like a
human nature. They're so stacked, they're so great that were like, oh, well,
we'll see what happens.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
They'll be really good. Now.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
They won ninety eight last year, limping in and I'm
and we were predicting like one hundred and fifteen wins.
I think this is the year, even in a tough division,
they're they're looking at one hundred and ten wins.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
How about this? Though, no team has repeated in Major
League Baseball in twenty five years since that Yankee team
that won in ninety eight, ninety nine, two thousand, okay,
and then no National League team has ever hasn't repeated
since the seventy five seventy six Cincinnati Reds. What do
(18:57):
you make of that? And going to break that?
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Uh, you know, who knows it's a whole new ball game.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
We know.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I'll keep this short.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
It's a tournament.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
Anybody can get knocked out quickly in a tournament. The
Dodgers were, as you know, dead to rights last year
down to the Padres. And we've seen every year. Two
years ago it was the Braves' best team in baseball.
You know, one hundreds something wins knocked out in the
first round. We've seen the top teams a Dodgers the
year before that top team in baseball. I think there
(19:29):
are one hundred and eleven wins knocked out, So they
could get knocked out in the first round. I mean,
you get in the tournament, you know, it's baseball. Even
if they have this great rotation, this deep bullpen, you
can get beat. So no like zero guarantees except that
they get in and they are likely. I'd be surprised
that they weren't in a Division series having won a
division How.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
About the Yankees, who of course were in the World
Series loss to the Dodgers. They got major issues. Obviously,
they lost Juan Soto to the Mets in the offseason,
and then Garrett Cole the ace is out for the
year with Tommy John But they did, uh, you know,
add some arms and some pieces. Do you still like
(20:11):
the Yankees? Or not well.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
I like them. I think they went from the favorite
to there in the bunch now. I think the loss
of of Coal.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
That lineup is a little light, like unless Bellinger has
some sort of you know, resurgence to two years ago,
which is very possible. He's still young, you can still hit.
But he wasn't great last year. He's good, He's a
good all round player.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Chooseholm. I think he was an excellent Yankee.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
I think he'll continue to blossom.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
There'll be a little more athletic this year.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
They'll be good, but like as far as the rest
of the Al East, like, I think they're a shade
better than the rest, but not much. And possibly the
Orioles are better. Red Sox are much better. I think
the Blue Jays are a very good defensive team. They'll
be decent race, you know, dimension the Rays like they'll
this is a good division and you know, you got
(21:01):
to win day by day. And I think they you know,
the loss of Cole is kind of an exponential loss,
like just they build off his innings and now they
won't have those.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Our guest is Brian Kenny, of course, the host of
MLB Now on MLB Network Monday, through Friday noon Eastern.
Let's go for like some player I should pay attention
to in twenty twenty five and maybe a team I
should look a little closer at in twenty twenty five
as well.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
You know who I like? I like as a bounce
back player, Bobashett. People are down on Bobashett. He had
a miserable year. Admittedly.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
I like success though. Rob.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
When you see a guy that has never failed at
any level and he has one bad year, that happens.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
I think Bobashett.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
I had him in my top ten among shortstops. On
top ten right now, A lot of people are thinking, Nah,
you know he's no good. Can he feel the position?
I think he's a great player. My young up and
coming player is James Wood of the Nationals. I think
he's a complete package. He hits the ball very well,
is very good process. I loved he's huge, like, he's athletic,
(22:12):
he's focused. I covered his father in high school basketball,
Rob Kenny Wood. Kenny Would played for East Hampton High
School on Long Island. Was the New York State all
time leading scorer. I covered him at high school and
then I see then he of course Kenny Wood went
to play for Richmond Richmond Spiders.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
They beat Syracuse in the tournament.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Sean Casey was like the batting champion at the NCAA
batting champion playing, you know, for Richmond at the time.
So he knows Kenny Wood. He's telling me all about
this kid coming up with the Nationals.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
I'm like, oh my god, I know his dad. Anyway,
this kid.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Can really hit and good process numbers like just his
his plate select pitch selection is good, plate discipline is good,
smokes the ball. I think he's going to be outstanding player.
A lot of good young players like Dylan Cruz for
the Nationals and my surprise team. But a team that
I think is going to be better than a lot
of people anticipate are the Red Sox. I think they're
(23:07):
just they're flush with young position players and now they've
added just enough to their rotation to be more viable
in that division.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Last thing, last word. World Series prediction two teams and
who wins.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
You want a World Series prediction today?
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Yes? I do.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
This is so you.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So this is you, and then you want to play
it back if you're right and ignore it if you're wrong.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
You know I'm gonna hold you to it. Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Oh all right, all right, hold I think uh, Diamondbacks
in the National League.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
All right, hmmm, No, that's probably not gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Uh, all right, Diamondbacks, Red Sox.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Wow, now that's off the board. I love it. Brian
Kenny makes sure you check him out on MLB network.
Is show MLB now Monday through Friday at noon Eastern.
Bk always a pleasure. I'll see you on the show.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Can't wait, Rob, I look forward to it.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Take care of No.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
This is blooning.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
It's the Parker pushback.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Shut here.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Rob tackles the outlandish takes in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Shut up today, I'm pushing back on all those people
on social media who were beating up former NFL quarterback
Rodney Pete for catching a foul ball in Game two
of the Tokyo Series. Right, he caught it over Max Mounsey.
Guess what, Rodney Pete didn't do anything wrong. He had
(24:46):
a glove that was provided by the stadium and the
foul ball came. He didn't reach over and block Max Munsey,
or catch the ball over his glove, or do something
that was not within the rules. The all was in
the stands, he reached out, he got it, caught it.
In fact, if you watched the video closely, Max Munsey
(25:08):
missed the ball. Even if Rodney Pete didn't catch it,
Max Munsey would not have caught it. Rodney pet played
football and baseball at USC. This guy can handle the glove,
and we saw what he could do. Get off of
Rodney Pete. He was entitled to that ball, and he
caught that ball. In the words of New York TV
(25:36):
legend the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time
this time. Until next time, Rob Parker out d can't Davin?
This could be an inside the Parker.
Speaker 4 (25:46):
See you next week, same bat time, from the same
Matt's station.
From the berkshears 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):
Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker, and
what a show we have for you today. Angels centerfielder
Joe Adell will drop by. We'll talk about him his
switch to center field. Also from MLB Network and the
host of MLB Now, Brian Kenny. He'll drop by, plus
all kinds of stats information as we get you ready
(00:42):
for the twenty twenty five season in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Let's go better up to lead off, it's getting robbed
and keep them on. Rob's hot take and the three
biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I know, I know they were baseball fans who were
belly yaken about the Dodgers and the Cubs starting in
that Tokyo series in Japan. The games came on at
three am Pacific, six am Eastern. But guess what, guys,
let's be real when you have great Japanese players. There's
(01:21):
no way that baseball is going to miss an opportunity
to enhance its game and its brand to so many
Asian people all over. So when you have Otani and
Sasaki and a Hamamoto, you're going to do that. It
just makes business sense. And I understand it. Everybody wants
the opening day to be on American soil, and we'll
(01:44):
have that coming up on Thursday with Opening Day. But
we know baseball is about business and money as well,
and it's just made good business sense. Number two, the
biggest story in Major League Baseball coming into the twenty
twenty five season is it whether or not the Dodgers
(02:05):
are good or could win the World Series. I mean,
on paper, how can you not look at that team
and not think that they're not gonna win the World Series?
After all, they won and beat the Yankees last year
in five games, and they didn't have any pitching, They
had injuries, all kinds of stuff, and somehow they put
together a pitching staff with glue and tape and gum
and they won a World Series. And now they've boasted
(02:27):
their rotation. We talked about Sasaki, we talked about Otani
returning to the mound. Blake Snell was signed as a
free agent. They boasted their bullpen. It's just so many
pieces that the Dodgers now have, but they have to
beat history. And there are a lot of people surprisingly
not picking the Dodgers to win the World Series because
(02:51):
no team has repeated in twenty five years, not since
the two thousand New York Yankees. They won a ninety eight,
ninety nine, and two thousand, and when you talk about
National League teams, get this. No National League team has
repeated as a World Series champ since the nineteen seventy
five seventy six Cincinnati Reds. Is this on? Did you
(03:13):
hear that? I mean outrageous? Baseball is very weird. You
could get knocked out in the first round. You can
win one hundred and ten games like maybe the Dodgers
will and lose in a series. We've seen this team
losing a first round series when Mookie Betts and Freddie
Freeman went one for twenty one or something in the
(03:35):
series and they lost. So it's not impossible. But this
will be interesting to see how good this Dodger team
is and do they buck the trend that we know
has happened in baseball for a long time. Number three,
Here we go my twenty twenty five World Series prediction,
and I know I was wrong. I originally picked the
(03:59):
Thes and then switched over to the Yankees. I didn't
think the Dodgers had enough pitching last year in twenty
twenty four. But this year, here we go, and I
will be in that group that says the Dodgers will
not n ot make it to the World Series regard
even to try to have a chance to win and
(04:21):
to repeat. I say, something goes wrong along the way
and they do not do it, and the history of
baseball stays intact of teams not repeating over twenty five years.
So I'm gonna go with the San Diego Padres. I
know I picked the Padres all the time. Last year
they had the Dodgers down three to one and then
(04:43):
couldn't score another run and wind up getting knocked out.
I think this year they complete the job. I'm gonna
go with the Padres. Off the beaten path and another one.
I know, anybody who's followed this podcast for the last
few years, you know I always pick the Yankees and
the Padres in the World Series, and guests, I'm picking
it again. I know that they don't have one, so
(05:04):
tho I know that they don't have Garret Cole, but
thank god they signed Max Free. I mean, he's an
ace at the top of the rotation. I still when
I look at the American League, I see a lot
of flawed teams. It's hard for me to look at
the Red Sox and think they're gonna do it, or
the Baltimore Orioles or the Toronto Blue Jays because I'm
(05:26):
thinking of a team in the Al East and I
still have to go back to the Yankees, and I'm
still gonna believe that either they will play well or
go out and get something that they need at the
trade deadline to help them along. So I'm gonna pick
the Padres over the New York Yankees in the World
Series for the twenty twenty five Championship. Don't hold me
(05:49):
to it, but if I'm right, trust me, you'll know
all about it.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Number four.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
So much love for baseball started at an early age,
and my family knew how much I loved baseball, even
my mom, who was a stickler for school and about
getting your work done. But when I was in junior
high school, my mom used to write a fake doctor's
note for me so that I could leave school early,
(06:20):
so that I could get home to watch the Mets
on Opening Day. I had to see the first pitch
of the season on TV. I couldn't come home in
the third or fourth inning. I had to see it
from the beginning. And back then I was a Mets fan.
I wasn't a reporter.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I was a fan.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Opening Day that stands out to me the most dates
back to college nineteen eighty three. I was a student
at Southern Connecticut State University. Me and my three buddies.
We hopped in the car. We barely had money for tickets,
but we had to see Tom Seaver return to the Mets.
(07:02):
We drove from New Haven, Connecticut, and I can remember
standing up in our seats in the bleachers and watching
Tom Seaver walk from the bullpen and to the mound.
What a moment it was.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Right, here comes the big interview. Listen and learn.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
All right now, let's welcome in angel centerfielder Joe Adell.
Here on inside the parker. Joe, how are you?
Speaker 5 (07:37):
I'm good? How about yourself?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Great? Let's talk about Opening Day to get started. Just
how special is it you guys open in Chicago against
the White Sope.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
That's awesome. I know for me, you know, every time
I get to be on the opening day roster, it's
special to me. And you know it's a crowdit to
getting through spring and being able to you know, get
the season going and uh and start the vibes on
a high note.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Let's talk about year number six. Last year a breakout year.
Played one hundred and thirty games, over four hundred at bats,
hit twenty home runs, a lot of good stuff that
happened in twenty twenty four. Just talk about going into
twenty twenty five and what last year did for you.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
That was awesome. You know, I was glad to be
able to get you know a little over that four
hundred market. That's where I wanted to be is you know,
get forward four to five hundred at bats and really,
to me, like my defense was something that really stood
out last year. I mean, obviously the power numbers were there,
but defensively, I really went in and did what I
know I'm capable of and lockdown right field pretty good.
So coming into spring training this year, the move to
(08:39):
center field to keep Mike healthy and be able to
have him in our lineup. It's a challenge, but I'm
up for it, and you know, I'm excited to go
out and be in the center of the field and
continue to work on that defense and continue to you know,
go to the plate and do the damage that I
can do.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Says a lot about playing center field. All the great
outfielders played center field and when they came to you
with that whole idea, and I get the Mike Trout,
try to keep him in right field, keep them healthy.
But but that's an honor, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
That's awesome, you know, or the guy like Mike you
never think that he would ever leave center field, just
our legendary his career has been. But to keep him
on the field and keep that bat in the lineup,
you know, we got to do. We got to do,
and I'm glad that I'm next man up, and that's
our mentality. And so I'm excited to continue to work
through spring here and and and get that comfort level
(09:27):
right and be ready to go right into the season.
So it's an honor.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Angel centerfield to Joe Adell here on inside the parker, Uh,
center field? Is it is it different? Playing? Is it
the way the ball comes and obviously you have to
You've got to cover the gaps as well. I mean,
there's a lot more ground to cover. What's the mentality
the difference between you playing right field and centerfield.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Well, we've talked about it a good bet, you know,
in our meetings and some of the drill work that
we've done. But really for me, it's, uh, you know,
both Porter says it the best. It's hawked the baseball.
You know. For me, I'm going to go out and
try to make every play that I can, every opportunity
that the ball is in the air, you know, I'm
assuming that it's my play. And I think that's the
difference between center field and the corners is for me,
(10:10):
every ball that's in the air, that gets past the infield,
it's my job to come in and try to make
that play. And whether that's going back, whether that's coming in,
whether that's in the gaps left center or right center.
My goal is to be aggressive and go out and
get as many balls as I can and and I'm
excited about the opportunity to really get out there and
and go for it.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Are you. We talked about it. The twenty home runs
last year do you look for more power or you're
just going up trying to get good swings and if
you hit the ball right, it goes out. You're not
looking to hit home run.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Well. For me, you know, I've been blessed with the
opportunity to go out and you know, when I make
good contact, good things happen. And so I'm going to
continue to continue to go in and work on the
decision making, making good decisions at the plate and swinging
at the pitches that I can handle, and those results
will continue to show up. I don't think I I've
never been the guy to really have to reach in
the reaching the power box, you know, to really hit
(11:01):
the ball out. So for me, I'm just looking to
make good contact and pick out good bitches.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
How about the idea of having a healthy Mic Trout
in the lineup that's going to help the team? You
feel better about the team and the chances in twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
I'm excited about it, you know, obviously having Mic back
in there, it adds so much to our offense and
what we're able to do and just the flexibility of
that lineup. And I think more than anything, you know,
having you know, Brinhifa back in the mix too. I
know he was somebody that you know, had battled some injuries,
and not only that, but myself missing the last month
and a half or so of the season. So just
bringing everybody back together and getting everybody back in there,
(11:35):
We've got a new way of trying to keep the
guys on the field, and everybody's working their best to
stay healthy and do the things they need to do
to be out there every day. So I'm excited about
our lineup and the flexibility that we're going to be
able to have with some of those names coming back.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Do you have any did you set any personal goals
for yourself?
Speaker 5 (11:52):
For me, really, I want to play that I want
to play as many games as I can. My goal
really this year is to get through the entire season
and be able to be avail every day. You know
when I do that, I know the numbers. We'll take
care of themselves, and you know my availability is first,
and with that, you know good things will happen.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
All right, jo Adell, thanks for joining us here on
inside the Park. Good luck this season, all right? Thank you.
Speaker 6 (12:15):
Yes, 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 2 (12:27):
Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 6 (12:30):
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 accomplishment, clutch moments,
and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe
(12:53):
into baseball.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
Betts, Doctor k to Doctor Stick, from Bro Bombs, the
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
(13:17):
that truly capture the voice of black baseball. If things
get out of hand is 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 1 (13:36):
The negro leagues.
Speaker 6 (13:38):
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.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
We got the best start in five in the business.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
Listen to the MLB bro Show podcast the Mixtape on
the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Get your podcast.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
It's time for the Pocket Protector Centrum. The analytic numbers
you need to know?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name, BS analytics is
his game. What do you got for me?
Speaker 7 (14:29):
Anthony March Madness may be on TV, but baseball is
back baby. The Dodgers are already two wins toward what
could be an MLB record one and seventeen this season
as they try to become the first team to repeat
his champs since the ninety eight two thousand Yankees. Now,
what other big questions are we heading into in twenty
twenty five? Well, which new club could be created. In
(14:50):
the first one hundred and twenty seasons of the modern era,
only four players total reached forty homers and forty steels
in the season, but we've had two in the last
two years. Ronald Lacuna Junior created the forty seventy club
in twenty twenty three, while Shoho Tani crowned the fifty
to fifty club last year. And don't forget Jose Ramirez
was one homer shy of the forty forty club last
(15:10):
year too, before his season finale was rained out. Now,
speaking of show, hey, what does he have for an encore?
The only player to win three straight MVP Awards was
Barry Bonds from one to four. But we're also going
to get him on the mound this year, as the
last time he pitched, he had a three to fourteen
ERA and struck out eleven per nine innings won. Soto
goes Crosstown to the Mets after signing the largest contract
(15:32):
in pro sports history fifteen for seven to sixty five
as the Mets try to win their first World Series
since nineteen eighty six. Now where does that leave Soto's
former team, the Yankees? Garrett Cole out, Don Carlos Stanton out,
Rookie of the Year Luis heel Out. They made their
first World Series since O nine last year, but their
title drought is their longest since nineteen seventy nine to
(15:54):
ninety six. Now, whatever happens twenty twenty five is bound
to be historic.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto.
If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer
or broadcaster, old or new.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Now, let's welcome into the podcast. Brian Kenny, of course,
the host of MLB Now on MLB Network every day
Monday through Friday at noon Eastern, and of course every Thursday,
I get a chance to hang out with bk Welcome
to the podcast.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
How are you now, I'm your guest, that's right now,
I'm your now, I'm yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Now, you set the tone. I'll see how that goes.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
No doubt about it. Well, let's start here with the
Tokyo series. Of course, got the twenty twenty five season underway.
Dodgers win both of those games against the Cubs in Tokyo.
Just some thoughts on it.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
I mean, the Dodgers are crazy deep this year of
you know, I'm big on them year to year. They're
only people realize they're averaging one hundred and four wins
a season over the last Like I think it's eight
years and that's pro rated with the short season. So
and yet I don't know how you feel. I feel
like this is the first time they come into a
(17:12):
season with a just a stacked bullpen and a stacked rotation. Uh,
They've been great for a while obviously, and and they've
had a bunch of different versions of themselves over the
past couple of years, and the Dave Robertsira. But I mean,
they they brought back Blake Trining, then they brought in
(17:33):
Kirby Yates, they bring in Tanner Scott. They already have
the Sea and the rest of the gang.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
They're so deep.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
And then imagine if they just went out and got
Blake Snell, It'd be like, whoa, that's a big addition.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
They got Rookie Sasaki too. It's like they're so deep now.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
Yeah, the only question is, like we were I think
we have a little Dodgers fatigue because they won last year,
like they got over the top, like because it was
you know, you know, it was frustrating for them. They
were the super team and they kind of weren't winning.
They only won the one in the short season.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Maybe you blasted them for that. I think you were
among the groups say.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
This, No, I was you already do it right?
Speaker 4 (18:12):
It is not a real world series. Titlow is going,
oh rob, But now it's funny. It's almost like a
human nature. They're so stacked, they're so great that were like, oh, well,
we'll see what happens.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
They'll be really good. Now.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
They won ninety eight last year, limping in and I'm
and we were predicting like one hundred and fifteen wins.
I think this is the year, even in a tough division,
they're they're looking at one hundred and ten wins.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
How about this? Though, no team has repeated in Major
League Baseball in twenty five years since that Yankee team
that won in ninety eight, ninety nine, two thousand, okay,
and then no National League team has ever hasn't repeated
since the seventy five seventy six Cincinnati Reds. What do
(18:57):
you make of that? And going to break that?
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Uh, you know, who knows it's a whole new ball game.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
We know.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I'll keep this short.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
It's a tournament.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
Anybody can get knocked out quickly in a tournament. The
Dodgers were, as you know, dead to rights last year
down to the Padres. And we've seen every year. Two
years ago it was the Braves' best team in baseball.
You know, one hundreds something wins knocked out in the
first round. We've seen the top teams a Dodgers the
year before that top team in baseball. I think there
(19:29):
are one hundred and eleven wins knocked out, So they
could get knocked out in the first round. I mean,
you get in the tournament, you know, it's baseball. Even
if they have this great rotation, this deep bullpen, you
can get beat. So no like zero guarantees except that
they get in and they are likely. I'd be surprised
that they weren't in a Division series having won a
division How.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
About the Yankees, who of course were in the World
Series loss to the Dodgers. They got major issues. Obviously,
they lost Juan Soto to the Mets in the offseason,
and then Garrett Cole the ace is out for the
year with Tommy John But they did, uh, you know,
add some arms and some pieces. Do you still like
(20:11):
the Yankees? Or not well.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
I like them. I think they went from the favorite
to there in the bunch now. I think the loss
of of Coal.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
That lineup is a little light, like unless Bellinger has
some sort of you know, resurgence to two years ago,
which is very possible. He's still young, you can still hit.
But he wasn't great last year. He's good, He's a
good all round player.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Chooseholm. I think he was an excellent Yankee.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
I think he'll continue to blossom.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
There'll be a little more athletic this year.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
They'll be good, but like as far as the rest
of the Al East, like, I think they're a shade
better than the rest, but not much. And possibly the
Orioles are better. Red Sox are much better. I think
the Blue Jays are a very good defensive team. They'll
be decent race, you know, dimension the Rays like they'll
this is a good division and you know, you got
(21:01):
to win day by day. And I think they you know,
the loss of Cole is kind of an exponential loss,
like just they build off his innings and now they
won't have those.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Our guest is Brian Kenny, of course, the host of
MLB Now on MLB Network Monday, through Friday noon Eastern.
Let's go for like some player I should pay attention
to in twenty twenty five and maybe a team I
should look a little closer at in twenty twenty five
as well.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
You know who I like? I like as a bounce
back player, Bobashett. People are down on Bobashett. He had
a miserable year. Admittedly.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
I like success though. Rob.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
When you see a guy that has never failed at
any level and he has one bad year, that happens.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
I think Bobashett.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
I had him in my top ten among shortstops. On
top ten right now, A lot of people are thinking, Nah,
you know he's no good. Can he feel the position?
I think he's a great player. My young up and
coming player is James Wood of the Nationals. I think
he's a complete package. He hits the ball very well,
is very good process. I loved he's huge, like, he's athletic,
(22:12):
he's focused. I covered his father in high school basketball,
Rob Kenny Wood. Kenny Would played for East Hampton High
School on Long Island. Was the New York State all
time leading scorer. I covered him at high school and
then I see then he of course Kenny Wood went
to play for Richmond Richmond Spiders.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
They beat Syracuse in the tournament.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Sean Casey was like the batting champion at the NCAA
batting champion playing, you know, for Richmond at the time.
So he knows Kenny Wood. He's telling me all about
this kid coming up with the Nationals.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
I'm like, oh my god, I know his dad. Anyway,
this kid.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Can really hit and good process numbers like just his
his plate select pitch selection is good, plate discipline is good,
smokes the ball. I think he's going to be outstanding player.
A lot of good young players like Dylan Cruz for
the Nationals and my surprise team. But a team that
I think is going to be better than a lot
of people anticipate are the Red Sox. I think they're
(23:07):
just they're flush with young position players and now they've
added just enough to their rotation to be more viable
in that division.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Last thing, last word. World Series prediction two teams and
who wins.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
You want a World Series prediction today?
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Yes? I do.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
This is so you.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So this is you, and then you want to play
it back if you're right and ignore it if you're wrong.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
You know I'm gonna hold you to it. Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Oh all right, all right, hold I think uh, Diamondbacks
in the National League.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
All right, hmmm, No, that's probably not gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Uh, all right, Diamondbacks, Red Sox.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Wow, now that's off the board. I love it. Brian
Kenny makes sure you check him out on MLB network.
Is show MLB now Monday through Friday at noon Eastern.
Bk always a pleasure. I'll see you on the show.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Can't wait, Rob, I look forward to it.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Take care of No.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
This is blooning.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
It's the Parker pushback.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Shut here.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Rob tackles the outlandish takes in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Shut up today, I'm pushing back on all those people
on social media who were beating up former NFL quarterback
Rodney Pete for catching a foul ball in Game two
of the Tokyo Series. Right, he caught it over Max Mounsey.
Guess what, Rodney Pete didn't do anything wrong. He had
(24:46):
a glove that was provided by the stadium and the
foul ball came. He didn't reach over and block Max Munsey,
or catch the ball over his glove, or do something
that was not within the rules. The all was in
the stands, he reached out, he got it, caught it.
In fact, if you watched the video closely, Max Munsey
(25:08):
missed the ball. Even if Rodney Pete didn't catch it,
Max Munsey would not have caught it. Rodney pet played
football and baseball at USC. This guy can handle the glove,
and we saw what he could do. Get off of
Rodney Pete. He was entitled to that ball, and he
caught that ball. In the words of New York TV
(25:36):
legend the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time
this time. Until next time, Rob Parker out d can't Davin?
This could be an inside the Parker.
Speaker 4 (25:46):
See you next week, same bat time, from the same
Matt's station.
Host
Rob Parker
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