On this week’s offseason edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob is joined by longtime MLB writer and author Ken Davidoff for a lengthy baseball conversation. During the interview, Davidoff discusses his new book (101 Lessons From The Dugout), the likelihood that we see work stoppage at the end of the upcoming season, why so MLB owners seem hell-bent on instituting a salary cap, what it's going to take for the New York Mets to turn their high-priced roster into actual winners, why the New York Yankees had such a quiet offseason, and much more!
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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):
Come on, I've been covering Major League Baseball for almost
forty years now, in New York, in Cincinnati, in Detroit,
in LA.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I love this game.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 5 (00:38):
I'm your host, Rob Parker, and yes, we have a
spring training audition of Inside the Parker and man Ken
david Off, the former New York Post Newsday Baseball columnists
and author, has a new book, and he's gonna talk
all about his new book.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
We'll also talk about.
Speaker 6 (00:59):
Depending CBA situation in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
He's based in New York. Of course, we'll talk about.
Speaker 6 (01:07):
The Mets and the Yankees. What are expectations for both
of those teams. So we'll do that and much more.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Let's go. 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.
Speaker 6 (01:24):
Or new Now let's welcome into the podcast one of
my favorite baseball writer's friend of mine, of course, Ken
david Off, and he has a new book, my friend,
one hundred and one Lessons from the Dugout What baseball
and softball can.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Teach us about the game of life. What's up, Ken?
How are you?
Speaker 7 (01:44):
Robin? Is an honor to be here. It's always great
to see.
Speaker 6 (01:46):
You, no doubt, no doubt. Tell me about the new book.
Sounds exciting.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I want to hear about it.
Speaker 8 (01:54):
Thank you so the book you named, you said the title.
The book is geared toward young adults ages twelve and
up and their parents and their coaches, and it is
about the life lessons that can be learned from the
gig the great games of baseball and softball. And we
break it down into one hundred and one small chapters,
you know, starting with the lineup. You know, when you're
(02:17):
not in the lineup, how do you deal with that?
And translate it.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
Over to walks of life.
Speaker 8 (02:21):
My co author is a gentleman named Harley Rotbart. He
is a longtime parenting expert and retired pediatrician. And then
David Wright of the Mets delivered the forward for us.
Speaker 6 (02:33):
Awesome, And so it takes kids through all the steps.
Like you just said, you're not in a lineup? Do
you mope around? Do you get involved? How do you
respond to that when things maybe aren't going your way
or in your favor, and other lessons like that.
Speaker 8 (02:49):
Yeah, one hundred more as a matter of fact, Yeah,
we break it down into six different sections. There's in
the dugout, at the plate, on base in the field,
yield on the mound, and extra inning. So every little
component of the game you can think of, we try
to find a true life parallel. Like like chapter two
is the lineup, So let's carry that over to school.
(03:11):
You know, you don't get elected school president like you wanted.
You know, how are you going to react to that?
Can you still be a contributing member of the team,
same idea, you know, not the lead role in the
school play and onward.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
We all know those movements and those are special things,
definitely for kids, because everybody's not going to make the team.
Everybody's not going to make student counsel, everybody's not going
to be the get a speaking role in the school play. Like,
those are real life things and.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
You can't roll up into a ball and stop living exactly.
Speaker 8 (03:46):
Not everyone is Rob Parker and just crushes every walk
of life.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
I don't know about that.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I didn't have a speaking role in the school play,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But it's all good.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Can we talk about obviously you covered baseball for a
long time. New York Post news Day covered baseball for
a long time, and a lot of stuff going on
as we get ready for the twenty twenty six season,
I want to pick your about both New York teams.
We've made some changes, the Yankees not as much. Mets
(04:20):
made some big changes. But first we all know that
there's a pending lockout, workstoppage potentially. It's been a long time,
and I got to say this. I know nobody wants
to see it, but it's pretty amazing, Kim, when you
really think about it. Baseball hasn't had a workstop since
nineteen ninety four. That's unheard of in baseball.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Am I right? With the history of.
Speaker 8 (04:43):
Yeah, since Mark right, since Marvin Miller came to light
in the late sixties.
Speaker 7 (04:47):
Yeah, that is correct. That is by far the longest
period of peace, and.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
So we know that that is on the horizon. After
the season.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
I think the collective bargaining ends what at the end
of the year, but a bombshell this past week. Of course,
Tony Clark, somebody I covered in Detroit who played fourteen
big league seasons, got an unprecedented job as the leader
of the union, you know what I mean, as a
former player. Never happened before. And then he's involved in
(05:18):
a scandal, investigation inappropriate uses of funds, and then it
comes to light that he had an appropriate relationship with
someone of his immediate of his family, and just a
horrific story.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Just your first when you heard the story, your reaction, well,
I was shock.
Speaker 8 (05:39):
Robert I was in their offices last week in New
York City dropping off some copies of this very book
we're discussing, and yeah, there was certainly no inkling that
anything was on the horizon. And this is impactful. You know,
we'll see, you know, I will see whether it turns
out to be a good thing or a bad thing
for the state of Major League Baseball. But this changes
(06:01):
the equation, There's no doubt about it. Elevating the number two,
Bruce Meyer at number one, and not having Tony there
as a presence. Whether you've viewed his presence as positive
or negative definitely changes the mix.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Yeah, and.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
You know this is something that they'll have to adjust.
As you said, they didn't of course not going outside.
They just going to elevate the number two guy who's
been in on all those meetings and their thoughts and
which way that they Major League Baseball wants to go.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
So that'll be interesting. The thing that that, and I.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
Get it, there's a lot of money to be that's
involved and how they want to divvy it up and
how they want to go about it, and a salary
cap from the owner's side, and players saying they'll never
give into that, even though you know there's like a
luxury tax and teams do pay like the Dodgers and
the match they do pay which.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Go to the other team.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
And a lot of people have this argument can that
they want like a floor so that you have to
spend a certain amount of money. And I gotta be honest,
I've seen it in the NBA and I don't think
it works.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
I think if you make the.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
Pirates have to spend a certain amount of money won't
get them in on getting players as much as it
will the players that they have, right or those players
will make more have to be paid more money.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
I'm just I've seen it in the.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
NBA where you have eighteen million dollar bench players, you
know what I mean, Like you have to pay the
money to somebody.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
And if you're the Pirates.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
And you can't get a school who's on a free
agent market or something of that magnitude, that doesn't you still.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Have to spend this money.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
And there aren't any other players again, so I'm not
so sure about that. And the other part, and I
want to get your take, is when you talk about parody,
that's the argument, Oh, it's not fair. The last ten years,
and everybody thinks the NFL is the parody league. Last
ten years, baseball has had seven different champions the NFL
(08:14):
has had six. In what you would call the final
or the championship in the last ten years, thirteen different
teams have been involved in it, you know, World Series
or the Finals or whatever you want to call championship.
In the NFL it's been nine teams. So even with parody, like,
the numbers don't support it. We saw Texas win a
(08:37):
World Series, right, We saw Arizona go to a World Series.
The Yankees haven't won this two thousand and nine, the
Mets didn't make the playoffs. Last year, the Dodgers were
two outs away from being a billion dollar bus. Right,
Rojas doesn't hit that home run, there's a good chance
they don't win. I mean, I'm looking at it, and
(08:58):
I'm not convinced that just because everybody has the same
amount of money that they all are going to have
the same chance to win.
Speaker 7 (09:06):
So, Roberre you a fan of the Simpsons, Yeah, I've
watched it.
Speaker 8 (09:10):
Yeah, yeah, I mean there's a very famous episode or
homework Simpsons says, too alcohol the cause of and solution
to all of life's problems. And we if we take
that over to baseball, we could say to show, hey,
Otani the cause of and solution to all of baseball's problems.
Because you're the data you cite. It is all accurate,
(09:33):
and I get it. But I think, as we you
and I are sitting here in twenty twenty six, the
baseball has a Otani Dodgers problem as much as it
is an asset because the Tani signing with the Dodgers
with that contract the way they structured it, and it
gets two million dollars, two million dollars a year and
the rest is deferred. He's generating so much money for
(09:55):
them at such a low current cost that they have
now created an empire. I know you said they're two.
Let me just finish the two out of even big
billion dollars. But first of all, I love you. They
would have been a bus if they lost Game seven
of the World Series, you know, but.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
They would have lost if they would have lost with
that team. I mean, like, what did we say that?
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Yeah, because nobody hit, Mookie Betts, didn't hit, Breddy Freeman,
didn't hit.
Speaker 7 (10:20):
Ultimately, if you lose Game seven of the World Series, you're
not a bust you great pig short.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
But they should have won the World Series.
Speaker 7 (10:28):
Right, and they did it all and they did uh.
Speaker 8 (10:31):
But that's the they've created this monster now to where
they you know, you talk about the luxury tax.
Speaker 7 (10:37):
You know, they paid.
Speaker 8 (10:38):
Kyle Tucker two hundred and forty million dollars and it's
essentially double that with the loxury tax, right, it's four
hundred and eighty.
Speaker 7 (10:44):
So that's the question.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
Is there a number that would have put without a
salary cap, but just with that put a restraints on
the Dodger, you know, Okay, his Tucker's contracts are to
forty You're gonna pay three dollars for every one dollar,
so it's actually seven to Like would that have shopped them?
What if it was four dollars dollars five dollars servery
dollar and maybe.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
But what about not allowing them to do the deferment?
Like like, oh like that so that you can't do that.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
So you can't shi to seven hundred million, but it
only counts as forty million over the next or twenty
million over the next ten years. Like to me, I'm
cool with that, And maybe that has to be legislated,
like how much you could actually defer and that would
help things.
Speaker 9 (11:33):
It's the Gambler here, Vice president of operations for mlbbro
dot Com and executive producer of the MLB bro Show
podcast the Mixtape. Every Friday, you heard that right. Every Friday,
we bring you the best from the world of black
and brown baseball. We covered the seven point two percent
(11:54):
of melanated Major leaguers from soup to nuts, but with
our own cultural player 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 into baseball,
from Mookie Wilson to Mookie Betts, Doctor k to Doctor Styx,
(12:17):
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 that truly capture the voice of
Black baseball. If things get out of hand, is the Boss,
(12:39):
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, making sure that you stay on top
(13:00):
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 malt.
Marodis first thing through MLB's pipeline. All pitching with the
sound of Black baseball. We got the best starting five.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
In the business.
Speaker 9 (13:21):
Listen to the MLB bro Show podcast the Mixtape on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 10 (13:33):
But even as I brought up the Mets, they spent
a ton of money, they did okay, And That's what
I'm saying, Like, spending money doesn't guarantee you anything, and
I know it helps, And I know the argument used
to be, well, the Yankees could cover up their mistakes,
you know what I mean, because they had so much
(13:53):
money and they can cover up their mistakes, and other
teams camp.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
But I've seen the Kansas City Royals win a World Series.
They didn't win forty years ago, they won in twenty fifteen.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
You know, I can go on and other teams that
have put together something and have a chance. I can't
tell you that in the NFL, can I can name
you a ton of teams that haven't sniffed the Super Bowl?
You know, havn't sniffed it and I don't. And if
you have a bad GM, or you misspend the money
can or you don't know what you're doing, I don't
(14:27):
know if that makes it an equal playing field for everybody.
And I'm not I get it. I understand that something
has to change.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
I'm just not cap with the floor and the ceiling does.
Speaker 7 (14:39):
I agree with you?
Speaker 8 (14:40):
And I think the biggest argument for a cap with
the floor might come from several members of the union,
rob because you know, you mentioned the eighteen million dollar
bench players in the NBA, and you follow the NBA
far more closer than I do.
Speaker 7 (14:56):
But I would think those guys are pretty happy.
Speaker 11 (14:58):
You know, right, Oh no, no, no, I'm sure they're happy.
But I'm just saying it's not going to make Pittsburgh,
you know what I mean. I don't believe a floor
is going to make Pittsburgh.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Uh, they'll, they'll be forced to spend more money, but
I'm not so sure how many stars they're going to
sign because there's a floor.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
That's my point.
Speaker 8 (15:18):
Yeah, I get it, but there's there's a few different
angles you have to look at it as and clearly,
if you look at the way the money has been senting,
you know, Juan Soto has his insane contract, Kyle Tucker
has his nutty contract, Otani has his.
Speaker 7 (15:31):
But that next tier they have not grown with the sport.
You know that the.
Speaker 8 (15:36):
Second tier players, even someone like Pete Alonso, who got
paid very handsomely by the Baltimore Orioles. You know, my
my post teammate Joel Sherman, who you know, he pointed
out like fifteen years ago that guy was Mark to Shera,
you know, and got paid a lot more. I know
Shrea is a more all round player than Alonzo, but
there the same conversation. So that class of player has
(15:58):
actually fallen, you know, so the top, the one percenters
go up. So that's why there is discussion even within
the union rob about could there be you know, how
can we get drag up the other ninety nine percent?
Speaker 6 (16:13):
Yeah, I just I just don't think and I understand,
don't get me wrong about the money for the players.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
I don't know if that makes Pittsburgh viable.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
I don't know if Pittsburgh is really a major league
talent anymore. And I just think that those are real
conversations that people don't want to have, you know, because
nobody wants to lose the team in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
But maybe they were ken.
Speaker 6 (16:36):
If I was a commissioner, we'd have twenty four teams,
and I would throw all of those players and major
league players back into the mix with these other teams
and you probably have a stronger league, you know what
I mean, if you had twenty four teams rather than thirty.
With Tampa Bay, even when they're good, can't sell tickets
like you could keep ignoring it. You know, they played
(16:57):
at the Yankee Spring Training. I don't know what their
attendance was. I don't think they sold out every game.
It's disappointing. And they had a good team that went
to the World Series, and you remember that can they
couldn't sell out some places I'm not sure if they
really are, And then you have other places that love baseball.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I live in LA. The Dodgers sold four million tickets
a year. I don't know what to tell people.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Those are facts.
Speaker 7 (17:21):
No, I'm with you.
Speaker 8 (17:21):
Let me just say, Ry have you met. You said
if you become commissioner, you become commissioner. I am unretiring
and going.
Speaker 7 (17:27):
Back on the time.
Speaker 8 (17:28):
Yeah, I'm not going to daily press conferences with Commissioner Parker.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
You know it, and I would the love of the
game would be the thing.
Speaker 6 (17:37):
As you know, cannopp covered This year is my fortieth
year covering Major.
Speaker 7 (17:42):
League You're amazing, You're.
Speaker 6 (17:45):
I was in Pittsburgh in nineteen eighty six, met them
that team, the Mets Pirates at three Rivers, and I
just cannot believe. And then of course it ended that
year with the World Series. Reason I covered the World
Series for the Daily News.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
I was twenty two.
Speaker 6 (18:02):
Years old, and I can't believe forty years have gone by.
It's been incredible.
Speaker 8 (18:08):
I'm flying, man, but you look great and you've accomplished
so much.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Man, I'm hanging in there.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
All right, let's talk about the two New York teams,
and I'm gonna get you out of here.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I'm not gonna hold you.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
I love talking baseball with you. The Yankees didn't do
a lot. You know.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
They brought back Cody Bellinger, which I thought was a
good move because.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
He really played well in New York. Trent Grisham.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
A lot of people weren't that happy with that move.
He had a really good year for them. I don't
know where they would have been without him. Ken he
really played well at a lot of home runs. But
I think what people lose sight is they didn't have
their full pitching staff last year, and without having to
do that, you really are going to add right two pitchers,
(18:54):
and especially Garret Cole eventually right as an age who
did not pitch last year. They had the same identical
record as the Blue Jays and it was just a
tiebreaker that cost him the division.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
But they were right there without their age.
Speaker 6 (19:08):
I think adding him and Luis heel Right as the
other guy who was injured most of the year came back.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Was really hisself.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
You add those two guys to what they have in
the rotation.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
I like the Yankees.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (19:22):
Look, I think the Yankees have a foundation of competence.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Rob.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
I know you mentioned sixteen years without a title, and
there's certainly a segment of the of the fan base
who thinks everyone should be fired, which I think is preposterous.
But the Yankees have a way of figuring it out
of at least making the playoffs and getting in the tournament.
Speaker 7 (19:41):
And yeah, I like what they did for Grisham.
Speaker 8 (19:45):
I know there were concerns, why are you getting that
much money for a one year contract to me? Because
he proved he can handle New York. You know, he
had so many clutch hits.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
And can you know this because you worked in New York.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
I tell people all the time, everybody can't play in
New York, right, Everybody can't play, and so that's why
I thought the Mets made a mistake with Peter Alonzo.
This guy can had played in New York, had some
of the biggest postseason home runs for them, and is
always available and he's your.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Own homegrown guy.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
What what is the issue?
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I'm dead serious.
Speaker 8 (20:21):
Yeah, I think the issue was they were looking ahead.
They had a DH and right field Alonsota, They had
a DH at first base then Alonso. They had a
DH in left field with Nimo, and like I think
they felt like something's got to give here, and it
just so happened that Alonzo was a free agent and
so it was a chance.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
To move away.
Speaker 8 (20:41):
You know, look, I look, Alonso should be regarded as
an all time mat I think he will.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
Be, but that the mix in that room was not
working right.
Speaker 8 (20:49):
They weren't They weren't achieving their their highest potential. And
you know, had it been Pete Alonzo with a long
term contract in not Juan Soto or Francisco Indoor, I
think Alonzo still be there.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
But it was a game of musical chairs and Alonso lost. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:04):
I just I don't know how you replace those home runs.
I really I think people act like it's oh, it's no.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
Big deal or whatever.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
Those postseason home runs the last few years, Remember the
one off of Devin Williams in Milwaukee. Big a big
home run, opposite field blast off one of the best
closers in the game at the time.
Speaker 7 (21:26):
Right, Oh, yeah for sure.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
So okay, So Yankees, you like what they've done or
what they have, Yeah, they should be in the mix.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Right then, they're right in it.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
And this whole idea, they're like, well, how are they
going to catch the blue Jays?
Speaker 8 (21:41):
The Blue Jays smack them around like the Toronto blue Jays,
God bless them. They had a magical season, Like who's.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
How do they automatically back in? You know, they have
a lot to prove. To me, they have more to
prove than the Yankees. Frankly, I agree.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
I'm not so sold that that's going to repeat itself.
What about Anthony u Volpi And and you know, at
the end of the year, we find out that he
was playing hurt, which makes kind of some sense because
he really fell off, and especially the fielding, so and
I know sometimes people don't want to talk about, you know,
being hurt and they just kind.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Of played through it. But where's his standing with the Yankees.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
It's shaky Robby and he won't be ready for opening day.
They got a really good trade last July. This guy
Jose Cabaliro from the Raids.
Speaker 7 (22:26):
He can pletic.
Speaker 8 (22:26):
Oh, he can play, you can do you can just
do a little bit of everything. Uh So I assume
he'll be the opening day shortstop and then once Slope
is ready, kyb Ra can bounce around the whole field. Yeah, hope, amazingly.
And is his fourth major league season now, so he's
it's time to time to get moving. And even before
the injury, he's such such a streaky player, really highs
(22:48):
and lows, and obviously what you strive for is is consistency,
and that's what the Yankees want to see from him.
And yeah, I think this is you could call it
a make or break year for Volpi.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
It's funny because he want to go glove, you know,
like like he want to go and he was awful.
You know how many botched double plays and not making plays.
I mean it was incredible to watch. You know, when
you lose your confidence out there, it's tough. And then Mets,
where are they are they going to bounce back?
Speaker 7 (23:18):
Up.
Speaker 6 (23:18):
They made enough changes to they don't make the postseason again.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
I think there's gonna be some issues.
Speaker 8 (23:23):
Here, oh for sure, for sure. I look, I think
they will make the postseason. Bottom line is, I think
they needed to blow things up, and I like what.
I like how things have landed. With the notable exception
of a guy you mentioned before, Devin Williams, I think,
and again going back to our conversation about certain guys
can play New York, certain guys can't. I think Devin
(23:44):
Williams offered a lot of evidence last season on the
Other side of Town that he was not meant to
close in New York.
Speaker 7 (23:51):
Now.
Speaker 8 (23:51):
The thing is, I think they do have a good
plan B with another former Yankee, Luke Weaver.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
I think he can handle that. But you know, how's
that going to play? Like?
Speaker 8 (24:00):
Is it going to be a rough April with Williams?
You know, like, how how much rope do they give
him if he does uh fall into fall into it again?
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Yeah, he did pitch better at the end of the year.
Speaker 7 (24:11):
He did a set up guys, he really did.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
So it'll be interesting to see he has really good stuff.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (24:18):
He also was coming off an injury. I'm not making
an excuse. Uh, but he did he he had nasty
stuff in Milwaukee.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
He won BI you know that, just just nasty.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Nasty stuff with the ball falls off off the table.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
So you expect Metz and Yankees to both make the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Okay, let's do one more thing.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Tell me about the book one more time.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
How people can get it, uh, and.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
That'll be great, Thank you, sir.
Speaker 8 (24:48):
Yeah, one hundred one Lessons from the Dougout by myself, Ken,
David Off, and Harley Ropbart Forward by David Right. It
is available on Amazon, it is available at the Bloomsbury website,
and it should be available on a bookstore in area.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
All right, there it is. Congratulations, mazel tov.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
I can't wait to get a chance to read it, so, Ken,
thank you so much as always. And the baseball season
March twenty fifth, the Yankees at the Giants in San Francisco.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
And you know I'll be there, so I'm already looking
forward to be here.
Speaker 8 (25:18):
Before you know it, it's opening ripped right if I'm writing,
I'm ripping.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
All right, can thanks.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
Appreciating it, roby the best, Thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen. Thanking you for your time this time until
next time. Rob Parker out d can't Davin? This could
be an inside the
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Parker See you next week, the 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):
Come on, I've been covering Major League Baseball for almost
forty years now, in New York, in Cincinnati, in Detroit,
in LA.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I love this game.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 5 (00:38):
I'm your host, Rob Parker, and yes, we have a
spring training audition of Inside the Parker and man Ken
david Off, the former New York Post Newsday Baseball columnists
and author, has a new book, and he's gonna talk
all about his new book.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
We'll also talk about.
Speaker 6 (00:59):
Depending CBA situation in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
He's based in New York. Of course, we'll talk about.
Speaker 6 (01:07):
The Mets and the Yankees. What are expectations for both
of those teams. So we'll do that and much more.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Let's go. 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.
Speaker 6 (01:24):
Or new Now let's welcome into the podcast one of
my favorite baseball writer's friend of mine, of course, Ken
david Off, and he has a new book, my friend,
one hundred and one Lessons from the Dugout What baseball
and softball can.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Teach us about the game of life. What's up, Ken?
How are you?
Speaker 7 (01:44):
Robin? Is an honor to be here. It's always great
to see.
Speaker 6 (01:46):
You, no doubt, no doubt. Tell me about the new book.
Sounds exciting.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I want to hear about it.
Speaker 8 (01:54):
Thank you so the book you named, you said the title.
The book is geared toward young adults ages twelve and
up and their parents and their coaches, and it is
about the life lessons that can be learned from the
gig the great games of baseball and softball. And we
break it down into one hundred and one small chapters,
you know, starting with the lineup. You know, when you're
(02:17):
not in the lineup, how do you deal with that?
And translate it.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
Over to walks of life.
Speaker 8 (02:21):
My co author is a gentleman named Harley Rotbart. He
is a longtime parenting expert and retired pediatrician. And then
David Wright of the Mets delivered the forward for us.
Speaker 6 (02:33):
Awesome, And so it takes kids through all the steps.
Like you just said, you're not in a lineup? Do
you mope around? Do you get involved? How do you
respond to that when things maybe aren't going your way
or in your favor, and other lessons like that.
Speaker 8 (02:49):
Yeah, one hundred more as a matter of fact, Yeah,
we break it down into six different sections. There's in
the dugout, at the plate, on base in the field,
yield on the mound, and extra inning. So every little
component of the game you can think of, we try
to find a true life parallel. Like like chapter two
is the lineup, So let's carry that over to school.
(03:11):
You know, you don't get elected school president like you wanted.
You know, how are you going to react to that?
Can you still be a contributing member of the team,
same idea, you know, not the lead role in the
school play and onward.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
We all know those movements and those are special things,
definitely for kids, because everybody's not going to make the team.
Everybody's not going to make student counsel, everybody's not going
to be the get a speaking role in the school play. Like,
those are real life things and.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
You can't roll up into a ball and stop living exactly.
Speaker 8 (03:46):
Not everyone is Rob Parker and just crushes every walk
of life.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
I don't know about that.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I didn't have a speaking role in the school play,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But it's all good.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Can we talk about obviously you covered baseball for a
long time. New York Post news Day covered baseball for
a long time, and a lot of stuff going on
as we get ready for the twenty twenty six season,
I want to pick your about both New York teams.
We've made some changes, the Yankees not as much. Mets
(04:20):
made some big changes. But first we all know that
there's a pending lockout, workstoppage potentially. It's been a long time,
and I got to say this. I know nobody wants
to see it, but it's pretty amazing, Kim, when you
really think about it. Baseball hasn't had a workstop since
nineteen ninety four. That's unheard of in baseball.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Am I right? With the history of.
Speaker 8 (04:43):
Yeah, since Mark right, since Marvin Miller came to light
in the late sixties.
Speaker 7 (04:47):
Yeah, that is correct. That is by far the longest
period of peace, and.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
So we know that that is on the horizon. After
the season.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
I think the collective bargaining ends what at the end
of the year, but a bombshell this past week. Of course,
Tony Clark, somebody I covered in Detroit who played fourteen
big league seasons, got an unprecedented job as the leader
of the union, you know what I mean, as a
former player. Never happened before. And then he's involved in
(05:18):
a scandal, investigation inappropriate uses of funds, and then it
comes to light that he had an appropriate relationship with
someone of his immediate of his family, and just a
horrific story.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Just your first when you heard the story, your reaction, well,
I was shock.
Speaker 8 (05:39):
Robert I was in their offices last week in New
York City dropping off some copies of this very book
we're discussing, and yeah, there was certainly no inkling that
anything was on the horizon. And this is impactful. You know,
we'll see, you know, I will see whether it turns
out to be a good thing or a bad thing
for the state of Major League Baseball. But this changes
(06:01):
the equation, There's no doubt about it. Elevating the number two,
Bruce Meyer at number one, and not having Tony there
as a presence. Whether you've viewed his presence as positive
or negative definitely changes the mix.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Yeah, and.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
You know this is something that they'll have to adjust.
As you said, they didn't of course not going outside.
They just going to elevate the number two guy who's
been in on all those meetings and their thoughts and
which way that they Major League Baseball wants to go.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
So that'll be interesting. The thing that that, and I.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
Get it, there's a lot of money to be that's
involved and how they want to divvy it up and
how they want to go about it, and a salary
cap from the owner's side, and players saying they'll never
give into that, even though you know there's like a
luxury tax and teams do pay like the Dodgers and
the match they do pay which.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Go to the other team.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
And a lot of people have this argument can that
they want like a floor so that you have to
spend a certain amount of money. And I gotta be honest,
I've seen it in the NBA and I don't think
it works.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
I think if you make the.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
Pirates have to spend a certain amount of money won't
get them in on getting players as much as it
will the players that they have, right or those players
will make more have to be paid more money.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
I'm just I've seen it in the.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
NBA where you have eighteen million dollar bench players, you
know what I mean, Like you have to pay the
money to somebody.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
And if you're the Pirates.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
And you can't get a school who's on a free
agent market or something of that magnitude, that doesn't you still.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Have to spend this money.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
And there aren't any other players again, so I'm not
so sure about that. And the other part, and I
want to get your take, is when you talk about parody,
that's the argument, Oh, it's not fair. The last ten years,
and everybody thinks the NFL is the parody league. Last
ten years, baseball has had seven different champions the NFL
(08:14):
has had six. In what you would call the final
or the championship in the last ten years, thirteen different
teams have been involved in it, you know, World Series
or the Finals or whatever you want to call championship.
In the NFL it's been nine teams. So even with parody, like,
the numbers don't support it. We saw Texas win a
(08:37):
World Series, right, We saw Arizona go to a World Series.
The Yankees haven't won this two thousand and nine, the
Mets didn't make the playoffs. Last year, the Dodgers were
two outs away from being a billion dollar bus. Right,
Rojas doesn't hit that home run, there's a good chance
they don't win. I mean, I'm looking at it, and
(08:58):
I'm not convinced that just because everybody has the same
amount of money that they all are going to have
the same chance to win.
Speaker 7 (09:06):
So, Roberre you a fan of the Simpsons, Yeah, I've
watched it.
Speaker 8 (09:10):
Yeah, yeah, I mean there's a very famous episode or
homework Simpsons says, too alcohol the cause of and solution
to all of life's problems. And we if we take
that over to baseball, we could say to show, hey,
Otani the cause of and solution to all of baseball's problems.
Because you're the data you cite. It is all accurate,
(09:33):
and I get it. But I think, as we you
and I are sitting here in twenty twenty six, the
baseball has a Otani Dodgers problem as much as it
is an asset because the Tani signing with the Dodgers
with that contract the way they structured it, and it
gets two million dollars, two million dollars a year and
the rest is deferred. He's generating so much money for
(09:55):
them at such a low current cost that they have
now created an empire. I know you said they're two.
Let me just finish the two out of even big
billion dollars. But first of all, I love you. They
would have been a bus if they lost Game seven
of the World Series, you know, but.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
They would have lost if they would have lost with
that team. I mean, like, what did we say that?
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Yeah, because nobody hit, Mookie Betts, didn't hit, Breddy Freeman,
didn't hit.
Speaker 7 (10:20):
Ultimately, if you lose Game seven of the World Series, you're
not a bust you great pig short.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
But they should have won the World Series.
Speaker 7 (10:28):
Right, and they did it all and they did uh.
Speaker 8 (10:31):
But that's the they've created this monster now to where
they you know, you talk about the luxury tax.
Speaker 7 (10:37):
You know, they paid.
Speaker 8 (10:38):
Kyle Tucker two hundred and forty million dollars and it's
essentially double that with the loxury tax, right, it's four
hundred and eighty.
Speaker 7 (10:44):
So that's the question.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
Is there a number that would have put without a
salary cap, but just with that put a restraints on
the Dodger, you know, Okay, his Tucker's contracts are to
forty You're gonna pay three dollars for every one dollar,
so it's actually seven to Like would that have shopped them?
What if it was four dollars dollars five dollars servery
dollar and maybe.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
But what about not allowing them to do the deferment?
Like like, oh like that so that you can't do that.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
So you can't shi to seven hundred million, but it
only counts as forty million over the next or twenty
million over the next ten years. Like to me, I'm
cool with that, And maybe that has to be legislated,
like how much you could actually defer and that would
help things.
Speaker 9 (11:33):
It's the Gambler here, Vice president of operations for mlbbro
dot Com and executive producer of the MLB bro Show
podcast the Mixtape. Every Friday, you heard that right. Every Friday,
we bring you the best from the world of black
and brown baseball. We covered the seven point two percent
(11:54):
of melanated Major leaguers from soup to nuts, but with
our own cultural player 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 into baseball,
from Mookie Wilson to Mookie Betts, Doctor k to Doctor Styx,
(12:17):
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 that truly capture the voice of
Black baseball. If things get out of hand, is the Boss,
(12:39):
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, making sure that you stay on top
(13:00):
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 malt.
Marodis first thing through MLB's pipeline. All pitching with the
sound of Black baseball. We got the best starting five.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
In the business.
Speaker 9 (13:21):
Listen to the MLB bro Show podcast the Mixtape on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 10 (13:33):
But even as I brought up the Mets, they spent
a ton of money, they did okay, And That's what
I'm saying, Like, spending money doesn't guarantee you anything, and
I know it helps, And I know the argument used
to be, well, the Yankees could cover up their mistakes,
you know what I mean, because they had so much
(13:53):
money and they can cover up their mistakes, and other
teams camp.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
But I've seen the Kansas City Royals win a World Series.
They didn't win forty years ago, they won in twenty fifteen.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
You know, I can go on and other teams that
have put together something and have a chance. I can't
tell you that in the NFL, can I can name
you a ton of teams that haven't sniffed the Super Bowl?
You know, havn't sniffed it and I don't. And if
you have a bad GM, or you misspend the money
can or you don't know what you're doing, I don't
(14:27):
know if that makes it an equal playing field for everybody.
And I'm not I get it. I understand that something
has to change.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
I'm just not cap with the floor and the ceiling does.
Speaker 7 (14:39):
I agree with you?
Speaker 8 (14:40):
And I think the biggest argument for a cap with
the floor might come from several members of the union,
rob because you know, you mentioned the eighteen million dollar
bench players in the NBA, and you follow the NBA
far more closer than I do.
Speaker 7 (14:56):
But I would think those guys are pretty happy.
Speaker 11 (14:58):
You know, right, Oh no, no, no, I'm sure they're happy.
But I'm just saying it's not going to make Pittsburgh,
you know what I mean. I don't believe a floor
is going to make Pittsburgh.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Uh, they'll, they'll be forced to spend more money, but
I'm not so sure how many stars they're going to
sign because there's a floor.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
That's my point.
Speaker 8 (15:18):
Yeah, I get it, but there's there's a few different
angles you have to look at it as and clearly,
if you look at the way the money has been senting,
you know, Juan Soto has his insane contract, Kyle Tucker
has his nutty contract, Otani has his.
Speaker 7 (15:31):
But that next tier they have not grown with the sport.
You know that the.
Speaker 8 (15:36):
Second tier players, even someone like Pete Alonso, who got
paid very handsomely by the Baltimore Orioles. You know, my
my post teammate Joel Sherman, who you know, he pointed
out like fifteen years ago that guy was Mark to Shera,
you know, and got paid a lot more. I know
Shrea is a more all round player than Alonzo, but
there the same conversation. So that class of player has
(15:58):
actually fallen, you know, so the top, the one percenters
go up. So that's why there is discussion even within
the union rob about could there be you know, how
can we get drag up the other ninety nine percent?
Speaker 6 (16:13):
Yeah, I just I just don't think and I understand,
don't get me wrong about the money for the players.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
I don't know if that makes Pittsburgh viable.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
I don't know if Pittsburgh is really a major league
talent anymore. And I just think that those are real
conversations that people don't want to have, you know, because
nobody wants to lose the team in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
But maybe they were ken.
Speaker 6 (16:36):
If I was a commissioner, we'd have twenty four teams,
and I would throw all of those players and major
league players back into the mix with these other teams
and you probably have a stronger league, you know what
I mean, if you had twenty four teams rather than thirty.
With Tampa Bay, even when they're good, can't sell tickets
like you could keep ignoring it. You know, they played
(16:57):
at the Yankee Spring Training. I don't know what their
attendance was. I don't think they sold out every game.
It's disappointing. And they had a good team that went
to the World Series, and you remember that can they
couldn't sell out some places I'm not sure if they
really are, And then you have other places that love baseball.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I live in LA. The Dodgers sold four million tickets
a year. I don't know what to tell people.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Those are facts.
Speaker 7 (17:21):
No, I'm with you.
Speaker 8 (17:21):
Let me just say, Ry have you met. You said
if you become commissioner, you become commissioner. I am unretiring
and going.
Speaker 7 (17:27):
Back on the time.
Speaker 8 (17:28):
Yeah, I'm not going to daily press conferences with Commissioner Parker.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
You know it, and I would the love of the
game would be the thing.
Speaker 6 (17:37):
As you know, cannopp covered This year is my fortieth
year covering Major.
Speaker 7 (17:42):
League You're amazing, You're.
Speaker 6 (17:45):
I was in Pittsburgh in nineteen eighty six, met them
that team, the Mets Pirates at three Rivers, and I
just cannot believe. And then of course it ended that
year with the World Series. Reason I covered the World
Series for the Daily News.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
I was twenty two.
Speaker 6 (18:02):
Years old, and I can't believe forty years have gone by.
It's been incredible.
Speaker 8 (18:08):
I'm flying, man, but you look great and you've accomplished
so much.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Man, I'm hanging in there.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
All right, let's talk about the two New York teams,
and I'm gonna get you out of here.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I'm not gonna hold you.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
I love talking baseball with you. The Yankees didn't do
a lot. You know.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
They brought back Cody Bellinger, which I thought was a
good move because.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
He really played well in New York. Trent Grisham.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
A lot of people weren't that happy with that move.
He had a really good year for them. I don't
know where they would have been without him. Ken he
really played well at a lot of home runs. But
I think what people lose sight is they didn't have
their full pitching staff last year, and without having to
do that, you really are going to add right two pitchers,
(18:54):
and especially Garret Cole eventually right as an age who
did not pitch last year. They had the same identical
record as the Blue Jays and it was just a
tiebreaker that cost him the division.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
But they were right there without their age.
Speaker 6 (19:08):
I think adding him and Luis heel Right as the
other guy who was injured most of the year came back.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Was really hisself.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
You add those two guys to what they have in
the rotation.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
I like the Yankees.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (19:22):
Look, I think the Yankees have a foundation of competence.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Rob.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
I know you mentioned sixteen years without a title, and
there's certainly a segment of the of the fan base
who thinks everyone should be fired, which I think is preposterous.
But the Yankees have a way of figuring it out
of at least making the playoffs and getting in the tournament.
Speaker 7 (19:41):
And yeah, I like what they did for Grisham.
Speaker 8 (19:45):
I know there were concerns, why are you getting that
much money for a one year contract to me? Because
he proved he can handle New York. You know, he
had so many clutch hits.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
And can you know this because you worked in New York.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
I tell people all the time, everybody can't play in
New York, right, Everybody can't play, and so that's why
I thought the Mets made a mistake with Peter Alonzo.
This guy can had played in New York, had some
of the biggest postseason home runs for them, and is
always available and he's your.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Own homegrown guy.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
What what is the issue?
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I'm dead serious.
Speaker 8 (20:21):
Yeah, I think the issue was they were looking ahead.
They had a DH and right field Alonsota, They had
a DH at first base then Alonso. They had a
DH in left field with Nimo, and like I think
they felt like something's got to give here, and it
just so happened that Alonzo was a free agent and
so it was a chance.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
To move away.
Speaker 8 (20:41):
You know, look, I look, Alonso should be regarded as
an all time mat I think he will.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
Be, but that the mix in that room was not
working right.
Speaker 8 (20:49):
They weren't They weren't achieving their their highest potential. And
you know, had it been Pete Alonzo with a long
term contract in not Juan Soto or Francisco Indoor, I
think Alonzo still be there.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
But it was a game of musical chairs and Alonso lost. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:04):
I just I don't know how you replace those home runs.
I really I think people act like it's oh, it's no.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
Big deal or whatever.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
Those postseason home runs the last few years, Remember the
one off of Devin Williams in Milwaukee. Big a big
home run, opposite field blast off one of the best
closers in the game at the time.
Speaker 7 (21:26):
Right, Oh, yeah for sure.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
So okay, So Yankees, you like what they've done or
what they have, Yeah, they should be in the mix.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Right then, they're right in it.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
And this whole idea, they're like, well, how are they
going to catch the blue Jays?
Speaker 8 (21:41):
The Blue Jays smack them around like the Toronto blue Jays,
God bless them. They had a magical season, Like who's.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
How do they automatically back in? You know, they have
a lot to prove. To me, they have more to
prove than the Yankees. Frankly, I agree.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
I'm not so sold that that's going to repeat itself.
What about Anthony u Volpi And and you know, at
the end of the year, we find out that he
was playing hurt, which makes kind of some sense because
he really fell off, and especially the fielding, so and
I know sometimes people don't want to talk about, you know,
being hurt and they just kind.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Of played through it. But where's his standing with the Yankees.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
It's shaky Robby and he won't be ready for opening day.
They got a really good trade last July. This guy
Jose Cabaliro from the Raids.
Speaker 7 (22:26):
He can pletic.
Speaker 8 (22:26):
Oh, he can play, you can do you can just
do a little bit of everything. Uh So I assume
he'll be the opening day shortstop and then once Slope
is ready, kyb Ra can bounce around the whole field. Yeah, hope, amazingly.
And is his fourth major league season now, so he's
it's time to time to get moving. And even before
the injury, he's such such a streaky player, really highs
(22:48):
and lows, and obviously what you strive for is is consistency,
and that's what the Yankees want to see from him.
And yeah, I think this is you could call it
a make or break year for Volpi.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
It's funny because he want to go glove, you know,
like like he want to go and he was awful.
You know how many botched double plays and not making plays.
I mean it was incredible to watch. You know, when
you lose your confidence out there, it's tough. And then Mets,
where are they are they going to bounce back?
Speaker 7 (23:18):
Up.
Speaker 6 (23:18):
They made enough changes to they don't make the postseason again.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
I think there's gonna be some issues.
Speaker 8 (23:23):
Here, oh for sure, for sure. I look, I think
they will make the postseason. Bottom line is, I think
they needed to blow things up, and I like what.
I like how things have landed. With the notable exception
of a guy you mentioned before, Devin Williams, I think,
and again going back to our conversation about certain guys
can play New York, certain guys can't. I think Devin
(23:44):
Williams offered a lot of evidence last season on the
Other side of Town that he was not meant to
close in New York.
Speaker 7 (23:51):
Now.
Speaker 8 (23:51):
The thing is, I think they do have a good
plan B with another former Yankee, Luke Weaver.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
I think he can handle that. But you know, how's
that going to play? Like?
Speaker 8 (24:00):
Is it going to be a rough April with Williams?
You know, like, how how much rope do they give
him if he does uh fall into fall into it again?
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Yeah, he did pitch better at the end of the year.
Speaker 7 (24:11):
He did a set up guys, he really did.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
So it'll be interesting to see he has really good stuff.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (24:18):
He also was coming off an injury. I'm not making
an excuse. Uh, but he did he he had nasty
stuff in Milwaukee.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
He won BI you know that, just just nasty.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Nasty stuff with the ball falls off off the table.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
So you expect Metz and Yankees to both make the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Okay, let's do one more thing.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Tell me about the book one more time.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
How people can get it, uh, and.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
That'll be great, Thank you, sir.
Speaker 8 (24:48):
Yeah, one hundred one Lessons from the Dougout by myself, Ken,
David Off, and Harley Ropbart Forward by David Right. It
is available on Amazon, it is available at the Bloomsbury website,
and it should be available on a bookstore in area.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
All right, there it is. Congratulations, mazel tov.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
I can't wait to get a chance to read it, so, Ken,
thank you so much as always. And the baseball season
March twenty fifth, the Yankees at the Giants in San Francisco.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
And you know I'll be there, so I'm already looking
forward to be here.
Speaker 8 (25:18):
Before you know it, it's opening ripped right if I'm writing,
I'm ripping.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
All right, can thanks.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
Appreciating it, roby the best, Thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen. Thanking you for your time this time until
next time. Rob Parker out d can't Davin? This could
be an inside the
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Parker See you next week, the same bat time, from
the same Matt's station.
Host
Rob Parker
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