On this week’s edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob reacts to the Padres' hot start, Aaron Judge being named the Captain of Team USA, and Spencer Strider making history in his return from injury. Spectrum Sportsnet Analyst Jerry Hairston Jr. joins Rob to dive into the Dodgers' start of the season and give his thoughts on Jackie Robinson Day. Tigers Radio Analyst Bobby Scales breaks down what the Tigers need to do to get back to the postseason. Plus, Fair or Foul with JR Gamble, Weekend Wagers, Rob's latest appearance on MLB Network, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
From the Berkshars to the sound from wherever you live
in MLB America. This is Inside the Parker. You give
us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop
on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame
voter number fifty seven.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You have another hot take.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Will not and Ot make the playoffs show? Hey me
the money, Rob Parker, Come on, I've been covering Major
League baseball for almost forty years now, in New York,
in Cincinnati, in Detroit, in LA. I love this game.
Let's go. Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker,
(00:45):
and what a show we have for you today on
Inside the Parker. Coming up, we'll talk with former Major
league infielder and outfielder Jerry Harriston Junior. Also Detroit Tigers
radio color analy Bobby Scales also drops in that plus
foul a fare, let's go.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Better up to lead off. It's getting robbed and keep
them mind. Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories
in Major League Baseball. Number one.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I know there's a long way to go into baseball season.
It's a marathon and it's not a sprint, but there's
no way you can look at the Padres start through
the first nineteen games and not think that something special
is going on. Twelve and one at home and fifteen
and four coming into Thursday. What a start. And we
(01:43):
let's not forget about last year. I know they choked,
they were up three to one. They were supposed to
go to the World Series, not the Dodgers. You remember that, right,
and then for whatever reason, they couldn't score another run.
They scuffled, three games lost, and the Dodgers went on
to of course the World Series and beat the Yankees.
(02:03):
But this is a good team. This is not a fluke.
I'm not. If you watch the first podcast this season,
I picked the Padres to go to the World Series.
I know on paper, the Dodgers are a better team,
but take a close look at this Padres team. Twelve
and one at home, fifteen and four to start the season,
(02:26):
through nineteen games. This is a good team. They have
a shot. We're going to have a race. And we
haven't even mentioned the San Francisco Giants, who are mollywopping people,
scoring ten to eleven runs like it's going out of style.
Who would have thought that the NL West, with this
dominant Dodger team would have two other teams Right there
(02:48):
here we are as we get closer to the first
month of the season being over, the Padres follow them.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
They're good number two.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
It's only fitting that Aaron Judge was named Team USA
Captain for the upcoming WBC, the World Baseball Classic in
twenty twenty six. Aaron Judge has been phenomenal. The Yankee
slugger has won two of the last three American League MVPs.
Last year twenty twenty four, he wonted unanimously, and he
(03:22):
continues this year in twenty twenty five to bash the baseball.
We know how great sho hae Otani is and what
he's done for baseball, but as far as an American player,
Aaron Judge is it. He is the face of baseball.
Look at his stats. There was a recent stat the
first almost thousand games that the Babe Ruth and Aaron
(03:46):
Judge played for the Yankees with identical home run totals
that that's crazy that anybody would have identical home run
totals with the Babe in the same amount of games.
And actually Aaron Judge did it in less at bats,
which is even more impressive. But Aaron Judge is a
great representation for the United States and baseball. What can
(04:11):
you say. There's nothing bad about him. He's a great guy,
great smile, home run hitter. You know, that's what baseball
fans love. So of course baseball made the right choice.
It used to be Mike Trout. Even Mike Trout said
he's the guy. It makes sense. What a great move
by a team. USA. Number three Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer
(04:34):
Streyder became the fastest pitcher to record five hundred strikeouts.
He did it in just three hundred and thirty four innings.
The twenty six year old right hander missed last season
to injury, but he came back this season and of
course the Atlanta Braves need him in their rotation. They're
off to a bad start, but Strider is one of
(04:57):
those bright spots they have, and guy that they hope
will be in their rotation for years to come. But
that's incredible when you think about how long baseball has
been around and here he is, Spencer Stryder, the fastest
to five hundred strikeouts. Amazing. Here comes the big interviews.
Listen and learn. It's so good. Now, let's welcome in
(05:23):
Jerry Harriston junior. Of course, he played sixteen big league seasons.
One of the most versatile guys in baseball, played every
position except catcher and pitcher in the big leagues. We
know he started with the Dodgers, won a World Series
in two thousand and nine with the Yankees, and now
he is a analyst for sportsnet LA. Jerry, welcome into
(05:45):
the podcast. How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Great?
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Rap?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
How you doing? Man?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
I always great to see it, no doubt, great to
talk to you. And let's just get started on this
Dodger team. We know, on paper best team in baseball,
and they've won a lot of games, and no one
said that the sky has fallen. But if I would
have told you that they would be in third place
at any point during the season, I don't think anybody
(06:08):
would believe that. And I know it's early, but there's
competition in the West.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
There's competition the West. I think it's great for baseball.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
You know, credit to the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks,
danfrad Cisville Giants. They put really good teams together. Buster Posey,
you know a throwback player player I played against. He's
mixing a little bit of the analytics, but with also
what the old school style of playing, and they are
benefited from it. They're really playing great baseball. Padres. We
(06:37):
knew they were talented.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
You know, the.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
Padres were one game away last year from eliminating the Dodgers.
So trust me, here in LA we know how good
the Padres are. And the d Backs have as good
as starting rotation there is in the big leagues, so
they've always been good. So credit to those teams organizations
putting really good teams together.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Let's talk about Mookie Betts and the illness in Japan.
Couldn't play and still somehow got out there, made it
to opening day and even though with the weight loss,
I had some big hits or whatnot. Just talk about
Mookie and going through what he went through.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Well, listen, obviously, Mookie Bets is a game changing type
of player.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
I know he had a little bit of a summon buck.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
We've all had those summer bucks, and you know, sometimes
you lose, you know, ten pounds, sometimes you lose fifteen.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
For Mookie best it couldn't.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Happen at a worser time, but it's one of those
things where he wanted to play so bad he felt
a lot better. They were very, very optimistic that he
would get back on the field, which he did and
now he's off to a great start. So Mookie best
making that transition. In my opinion, the best right fielder
in the game. But you know, to save his legs
(07:49):
a little bit. And also, you know, we always talk
about athletes having that competitive drive.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
He wants to prove he came up as an infielder.
He wants to.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
Prove that he can be a great shortstop, and so
far he has looked great. Last year he was learning
on the fly and he had a little bit of
a hiccups, but he had an entire offseason to really get.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
Himself prepared to play shortstop, and rob he has looked
really good.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Really get a shortstop, and we know his hitting prowess,
he's as good as it gets at the play.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
So he's been fun to watch so far.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Former Major League infielder outfielder Jerry Harrison Junior joining us
here on inside the Parker. Let's not forget the elephant
in the room show, hey Otani. And of course year
number two with the Dodgers, year number one couldn't have
been better. Fifty to fifty a World Series Championship and whatnot.
Expectations can he perform the same or do we expect
(08:45):
a little drop, not fall off the cliff or anything,
But can he repeat fifty to fifty?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Here's the thing, the rob I'll play with a guy
named Albert Bell. He gets on me all the time.
Albert Bell also did fifty to fifty, but he did
it a different way. Fifty home runs, fifty doubles. Obviously
shoel ted. He did fifty to fifty to fifty home runs,
fifty stolen basis. I hope there's a drop off in
the stolen base department. I don't think anybody here with
the Dodgers want him to try to steal fifty bases,
(09:14):
especially now that he's going to be pitching probably the
next month or so, getting ready for the second half
of the season, making sure he's fresh.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
So I wouldn't put him pack going over the fifty
homer mark.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
This kid is incredibly talented, but as far as fifty
stone bases, I think they've kind of shut him down
a little bit. He gets steal some bases here and
there when we need it, but they don't want him
running like he did last year.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
He had a bad stolen base attempt in the game
in Washington. I think it was where Mookie was up
down three Yeah, you know what I mean, with two
guys on, Mookie was up and he winds up being
the third out at second base on just to play that.
You know, I know he had had a consecutive steal streak,
(10:01):
but that just there's times to run, Jerry, You know this,
there are times not to run. That was just a
bad play.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
One of those things where and you're exactly right, Robert,
and he admitted it. You know, he had messed up
right there. He he's the guy always trying to make
things happen. He was trying to get his core positions
for Mookie Bets. But you're right down three runs. Let
Mookie Bets swing the bat. But you know what, I
love our star players being aggressive, and now with that
play overly aggressive.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Yes, it was over the aggressive.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
But the reason why they're super superstar players is because
they do unique things, guys like Mookie Bets, Freddie Freeman
and Show Tani. So you know, he pushed the envelope
a little bit and he learned from that and he
has moved on. But you're right, man, he is a
game changing player, but in that situation he probably should
have stand Patent.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Let Mookie swing the back.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
You mentioned pitching and Otani returning to the mound. What's
stronger for the Dodgers is it their rotation or their bullpen?
Because they added a lot of pieces this past offseason
a pretty impressive.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Their bullpen has been impressive so far. We needed that bullpen.
Our starting rotation has been played a little bit so
far by injury. We lost Blake Snell. He's on the
aisle right now. Hopefully he comes back. We've had a
hard time eating up innings from the starter starting staff,
so hopefully that changes. But our bullpen has been outstanding.
That really carried us last year to a World Series championship.
(11:24):
Hopefully our starters would start going deeper in the ball
game to make sure our bullpen is fresh for the
rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
And I would be remiss if I didn't just ask you.
Obviously you be coming up as a Dodger, and just
we had Jackie Robinson Day on April fifteenth, nineteen forty seven,
when he broke the color barrier, and the Dodgers always
give the Dodgers credit. I mean, no organization has pushed
the Jackie Robinson legacy and made sure that we don't forget.
(11:57):
And you know, a lot of people love the Dodgers
for that that they were the organization that had an
open mind and made a dramatic change in the game
of baseball when he broke the color Barry, what does
it mean for you that Jackie Robinson played for the
Dodgers like you did.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
It means so much to me and Robers, You know
that I come from a family. My grandfather played in
the Eager Leagues and because of Jackie Robinson, he was
able to play in the big leagues as well. My grandfather,
Sam Harrison, with the ninth Black player to play in
the major leagues. And because of that, my dad, my uncle,
my brother Scott as well, all of us got a
(12:35):
chance to play.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
But his stepping on the field took tremendous courage.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
But the way he carried himself on the field and
off the field allowed others to thrive in a variety
of different fields.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Rob you have thrived in this game of baseball.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Really in the sports world as a writer, journalist, TV
personality because of jackie efforts and so many people that
have come after Jack allowing us to step on their
shoulders and thrive. So we owe so much to Jackie Robinson,
not just in the baseball world, not just in the
sports world, but really throughout this whole country.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
No doubt, he is an American hero without question and
changed this country forever. Always a pleasure. Jerry Harrisdon Junior
joining us here on Inside the Parker. Thanks for your
inside Jerry. We'll see you soon out at the ballpark.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Sounds good. I was going to see you rout.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
In case you missed Rob Parker on the MLB Networks,
here's his latest appearance on Mlbina.
Speaker 6 (13:37):
Rob Parker's in the showdown And just to give people
a little background, Robs on every week and Rob sends
in topics that he would like to discuss, and we
take that very seriously, and.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
We're already I'm stunned, Rob.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
We're already in the I Told you So part of
the season April fifteenth, and you're telling me so, So
go ahead, What did you tell me?
Speaker 2 (13:54):
And what should I learn from your brilliance?
Speaker 7 (13:57):
B K.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
I was trying to warn you, I told you earlier
in the season. I know it's still early, but can
we officially call Juan Soto. Je so so that told you, okay.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
Wan, he's not He's not exactly I know where you going.
He's not all right, he's not tearing it up for
those that are, No, Rob, you had the gumption to
come out and say, Juan Soto will struggle year one
in his Mets steal, which has happened to a lot
of Mets, but I said it will not happen to Sodo.
He's not torn it up. But Rob, he's got a
four hundred on base. He's he's doing fine. He's got
(14:33):
a four hundred.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
But you gotta admit BK two fifty two home run
six RBI, and he himself, in the newspaper in New
York Today this week, said that he misses Aaron Judge
hitting behind him. I mean, like he understands. Let's be honest.
Lineup Yankee Stadium a great hitters park for him as well. Right,
(14:59):
he had his best season ever. I mean, there's a
lot of different factors there. There's a big difference between
Queens and the Bronx. And it's not just taking the
bridge over to get to one of them.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Sorry, So what's the difference then, enlightening.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You're from Queens. What's the difference.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
It's just that there's But when you play with the Yankees,
there's a difference. And when you come to the Mets,
I just think people will pitch to you differently, will
not allow you to be the one to beat them.
And that's the hard part. And I think that's why.
Even going back to George Foster, who had fifty home
runs but the Reds the Mets and.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
He was a disaster.
Speaker 6 (15:34):
Yeah, there's a lot of Met disasters year one, right,
Even Carlos Beltron was terrible. Roberto Alomar came off a
great season, not good with the Mets. However, he's got
a four hundred on base right he's slugging, he just
started to hit home runs. His plate selection is still
state of the yard, so he's still quite good. He
has not exploded yet, but he's there. But I'll give
(15:56):
you credit. He did not come out of the gate
the way he did with the Yankees.
Speaker 8 (15:59):
All right, give you that, all right, And you'll say
that right now, and the only one, yeah, you're the
only one saying want so so, which takes Hootspa on
your on your case, all right, Ellie Dela Cruz was
my MVP candidate.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
You want to dump on Dela Cruz again, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Yes, he's been two thirty eight and he's striking out
still twenty strike out.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
Fifteenth, Rob, it's April fifteenth.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I know, I'll say this.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
He was tearing it up in spring training and he
did not come out of the gate strong.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I'll give you that, but it's way too early, Rob.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
He had the one big game with the two home runs.
He has a total of three the Reds of Scofflin.
All I'm saying is for him to win the MVP,
he's got to be better than what he's come out
of the gate, and there's already players who are tearing
it up. I just think it's going to be difficult,
and if he doesn't cut down on the strikeouts, he's
not going to win an MVP, and so far he's
(16:50):
still striking out. His last game he had three ks.
Speaker 6 (16:53):
It's a fair point you pick up. Then you picked
on one game. One game he had three k's. It
was one game, but all right, fair enough, all right,
here's another one. Ya best team in Southern California? God,
who's your best team in Southern California.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
It's the Los Angeles Angels. I know the Dodgers have
twelve wins. If people want to discount the Angels, what
have you watched? They are fun. What a good team
that they have put together right now? And you know what,
Mike Trout is healthy six home runs, fourteen RBIs and
this kid Tyron Paris at second base five home ones
(17:27):
already five steals. I mean, I love what the Angels
nine wins leading the Al West. Am I saying they're
going to the World Series? No, but they are a
surprised and I like what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
They are. You're not completely wrong. How sustainable?
Speaker 6 (17:43):
I mean, I love them too, and I love Logan o'happy,
but I mean, you can't go the whole season without
drawing a single walk, Like you're not gonna hit four
hundred all year.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
We're very early. Good for them, but we're very early.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
And you know, will Trout finish a season that remains
to be seen as well?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
No, no, doot it. I mean there's a long way
to go, but they could be two and fourteen in
the season, be over as we've seen years gone. By
the idea that they have nine wins so early in
this season, and Trout looks like the old Trout.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Is great news requite for them because he's the leader.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
I hate to pump the brakes on your Mike Trout train,
to use your phrase that I love now, pump the break.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
He's not Mike Trout, Mike Trout from years back. He's Mike.
He's a version of Mike Trout. He's not Mike Trout.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
All right, Jackie Robinson Day, I know you have kept
on making a difference. Mlbbro dot com highlights black ballplayers.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
You know what. This is year five of mlbbro dot com.
Jimoke Gamble Jr. Gamble and Mark Gray and I we
started this five years ago, and our vision was just
to try to reinvigorate the black community with Major League
Baseball and cover some of the black players that maybe
don't get BKA as much coverage and the Trent Grishams
(19:01):
people like that, you know, who don't get all the
coverage and whatnot, and tell their stories and their journeys.
And so far, I've been pleasantly surprised at the reception
that we've gotten. And we've gone from fourteen staffers in
twenty twenty one to seventy BK.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
We have seventy.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
That's tremendous.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
Mlbbro dot com people can face there. Also, I know
you want to bring up a guy who was instrumental
in getting Jackie Robinson to break through in the major leagues,
was a huge supporter, big time writer at the time,
Wendell Smith.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Tell us about Wendell Smith.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Let me say this about Wendell Smith, and this is
the reason I'm a proud hard carrier.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
Member of the BBWAA BK.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
He was approved for his card in.
Speaker 9 (19:49):
Nineteen forty seven, which is twenty years prior the Civil
Rights And you know what the temperature was in this
country for this organization to give Wendell Smith a Baseball Writers.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Card back in ninety four. Incredible.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
And this man was out there.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
In Jackie Robinson and trying to make the difference to
get him in the major leagues. And he's a big
part of baseball history and the story as well. So
I would love to honor Wendell Smith on this day
as well. Let's not forget well he was Jackie Robinson day.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
Also, by the way, like he's operating in a difficult
situation as well as he's moving through life.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Also, I threw up there, Rob.
Speaker 6 (20:32):
Like again, it's refreshing, it's surprising. It's nineteen sixty two,
first year on the Hall of Fame ballot. I just
showed this, Bob Feller, Jackie Robinson. He had Lou Burdeaux,
Ducky Medwick, Luke Kappling not getting seventy five percent. There's
a lack of racism with the baseball writers voting.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Into the Hall of Fame. Put Jackie Robinson in right
away year one.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
I agree, and think about this Jackie Robinson being Rookie
of the Year in nineteen forty seven, basically one black
writer right probably able to vote and all white writers
and Jackie Robinson won. And back then there was just
you know, one Rookie of the year and that was
it and Jackie won it.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
Good stuff, Rob, Thank you so much, mlbbro dot com
find out much more there. Rob's doing great work, Rob,
great having you on the show.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Always BK And remember I told you one so so
that's going to hold out for a few months.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
The post of the Daily News are like, how did
we not think of this?
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Pawn?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
So so all right, it's not happening, Rob, but thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
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 3 (21:44):
Now let's welcome into the podcast. Detroit Tigers radio color
analysts Bobby Scales and Bobby Welcome to the podcast. How
are you?
Speaker 2 (21:55):
I'm fantastic, Rob.
Speaker 10 (21:56):
Always a pleasure to be on.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
With you, no doubt appreciate it. Bobby's been doing radio
for the Tigers for the last three seasons. And the
Tigers had a great year last year, the postseason run.
And here we are twenty twenty five, and let's start
there with expectations for this team. What are they?
Speaker 10 (22:18):
Well, you know, it was interesting after the postseason run,
the Cleveland US got the Tyers in five games last year,
you know, went down to Houston, won a playoff series,
both games on the road, best two or three.
Speaker 9 (22:32):
You know.
Speaker 10 (22:32):
At the end of the year press conference, one of
the things that I thought was very interesting is that
AJ Hinch himself said that this was the floor, this
is now the new floor, this is the expectation. So
I think that was pretty succinct in what he said.
This is the expectation. So the playoffs are the expectations
for this Tiger ball club, and obviously the easiest path
to doing that. I say easy, as if winning one
(22:53):
baseball game in a Major League season is easy. But
the easiest path to do that is winning the division.
So I don't know that a Scott Harris has said
that per se, but if this indeed is the floor
getting to the playoffs, the easiest path is to win
the division, and that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Tiger's off to a good start ten of their first
seventeen games, and on Friday open up a three game
series at co America Park against the Kansas City Royals.
Let's talk about the pitching targ school boy of course,
American League. Cy Young last year had a couple of
bumpy starts, but has gotten it together. Just talk about
(23:30):
him and try to duplicate what he did last year.
I don't know if you could really do that, but
as close as possible.
Speaker 10 (23:38):
Yeah, and you're right, Robert, a couple starts early, not
even in truth, if you go back through those starts
with a fine tooth comb, you're talking about one or
two pitches here and there, and especially the Dodger start,
one or two pitches, he hung the change up to
Taoskar in the first pitch he jumped over for the
homer that got him out of the ball game. And
then in Seattle he was kind of the victim of
some poor luck. He had a couple they weren't they
(24:00):
didn't go as errors, but they were misplays behind him.
And then Dylan Moore hit beat him with a backside homer,
an opposite field homer on a hanging slider away, and
Dylan Moore hasn't been known for being a power hitter,
so you know, after that, it's been vintage Trek Scoogle.
Can you duplicate the triple crown from last year leading
the league and wins strikeouts in e r A. Maybe,
(24:22):
but it's gonna it's gonna be an unbelievable feat to
do that. So I definitely think he is doing exactly
what he needs to do. He's back on his last
few starts to have been vintage Schooble, so I have
there's no there's no concern or worry about him at
all as far as the rest of the guys go.
Jack Flaherty off to a nice start, throwing the ball well,
Casey Myves has been a very pleasant surprise for this
(24:43):
for this Tigers team. You didn't exactly know based on
you know, his injury history and the way he's pitched
in previous years, which you were gonna get worked on
a number of things. He really throws three different types
of sliders. One he really gets for a strike, one
he can get some swinging miss in his zone, and
a third one that's a little bit bigger. He gets
swinging miss strike the boss when you missed below the
zone with but his arsenal, he's throwing the ball a
(25:05):
little bit harder. The split is a little bit harder.
It's as nasty as I've seen in the last three
years too. And then you got the young fellow Jackson
job phenomenal stuff. If you ask some of the guys
on the staff, they think he has the best stuff
of them all at scooball included. And that's that's saying
a lot. He just has to learn how to pitch
at the major league level. Nothing left for him to
prove at the minor league level. Made the rotation out
(25:27):
of spring training and.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Deserve to be there.
Speaker 10 (25:29):
And then the guy that I personally think is is
he kind of gets lost in the shuffle, but he
was really, really good before he got hurt last year.
Is a kid out of Georgia named Rhees Olsen. He's unheralded,
but it's it's a four pitch mix. When he is
has his mix correct, there is really good.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
It's really good.
Speaker 10 (25:48):
When he gets a little too slighter, heavy, things get
out of whack for him. But when his mix is correct,
his stuff plays anywhere on any team in Major League Baseball.
He was fantastic last year. Every you know, you've seen
this enough, Robin, your career is that you have one
guy on the staff that is going to be for
whatever reason, the team doesn't score runs when he pitches well.
(26:09):
Ree Olsen was sitting at one in eight last year,
was like a two eight at one point, and then
got some run support and then pitched really well and
then ended up getting hurt and missed the majority of
the rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
But those five starters have done a tremendous job. I
guess is Bobby Scales Detroit Tigers radio color analysts want
to talk about the Tigers going out getting Glabor Torres
a free agent time play second base. Just about Glabor
fitting in with the Tigers, Well, he fits in.
Speaker 10 (26:36):
For one thing, he's a proven right handed bat. If
you look at how the Tigers are put together offensively
in their position player corps, they are very left handed.
And two things needed to happen. They needed to get
some right handed thump, and they needed to see the
resurgence of a player and Spencer torcosen that that that
we've seen thus far this year, and they did both.
(26:57):
Scott Harris targeted uh Glabor Torres. They were in the
Bergman's uh Bregman. Sweet Steakes didn't come up with Bregman.
He chose to go to Boston as we all know.
But Glabor Tors is a proven right handed bat in
this league. And you know, are there some defensive deficiencies, yes,
are they going to get better under you know, Joey
Koorra and the work that he's gonna do on the infield.
(27:17):
I think so if he can get to an average
major league average second baseman, uh, you know, great out
as average, I think that'll be a tremendous improvement. But
also we you know what you're gonna get with the bat,
and that's what really Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg and
the rest of the Tiger brain trust for buying. They
knew that coming in and so, uh, he's fitting. Well,
he's And you talk to the guys in the clubhouse,
(27:39):
they just say, glabor Tour is a baseball player, and
he's a pro and and and thus far, that's what
you've seen, and that's what you've gotten from glabor Tours.
Nothing should change.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
This year, all right, I stink of course. Bobby Scales,
Detroit Tigers radio color analyst, Bobby, thanks for joining inside
the park. And my man, we'll see you out of
the ballpark close to you soon.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Hope, So come see me.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
It was a big week in the big leagues.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Who's a five believers?
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Is it foul or is it fair?
Speaker 1 (28:15):
And now from mlbdbro dot com, here's Jrgambo.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Jr. Is it foul or fair to say that pitcher
Clayton Kersherw coming back for the Dodgers will have a
huge impact on their race for back to back World
Series Championships?
Speaker 11 (28:36):
Fair considering the plan was for Kershaw to lightly thread
through two innings rob but because he was tossing so effectively,
they stretched the thirty seven year old in his eighteenth
MLB season to a third inning. That's a great sign.
He threw thirty pitches and twenty two of them were
for strikes. Let's be honest, the Dodgers aren't counting on
(29:01):
their old ace to log major innings and lead the staff.
Those days are basically behind him. They already have a
plaque waiting for the great two time World Series champ
in Cooperstown. But he also has a lot to play for.
Does Kershaw a third World Series after all of the
(29:22):
talk about how he couldn't win the Big Game? To
wrap up his statistically dominant career with three rings would
be crazy work, wouldn't it. Kershaw also just thirty two
strikes short of the magical three thousand k mark. Remember,
(29:42):
ladies and gentlemen, it's been more than seven months since
Kershaw last toted the mound. In August of twenty twenty four,
he had to watch the Dodgers great championship run on
the bench, So that's more motivation for or a guy
who knows he's coming to the end of the road
(30:03):
and his body is breaking down. Kershaw is expected to
return no earlier than May, and even then, he isn't
expected to be immediately activated, they're gonna take some time.
So if he's healthy, the Dodgers have another luxury arm
down the stretch. And this season, you know, it's all
(30:27):
about the playoffs with Dave Roberts and his squad. And
wouldn't it be something if arrested Clayton Kershaw was available
to hop in that time machine, come back August through October,
get some clutch outs or even make a starting to clutch.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Yeah, the rich get richer.
Speaker 11 (30:47):
With the Dodgers stumbling in third place after an eight
no start and now trying to scrape back above the Padres,
they might want Cursehaw back.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Rather than later.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Make way for weekend wagers.
Speaker 12 (31:06):
Yo, it's shine bo, Fire up those bed naps, let's go.
Last week was a little up, a little down. We
got that win on Friday with the Giants with those
plus many dogs, and then took the l against the
Yankees on Saturday. But hey, let's go two and oh
this week get that green and what better way to
do it than behind those Sacramento as.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Yes, we're taking the dogs again on Friday. JT. Jen
is one to know so far in the year with
a one point six.
Speaker 12 (31:32):
To nine e and with the league leading home run
hitter and Soderstrum behind them. We think they could spoil
that home game against those Milwaukee Brewers. For Saturday, we
had the Queens New y'all go ahead and take the
New York Mexic Cody Sega minus one and a half
on the run line.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
They should do.
Speaker 12 (31:49):
Work against the Saint Louis Cardinals, who seem to be
floundering there.
Speaker 7 (31:53):
Hi, I'm Rob Parker, the founder and editor of MLB
broad dot com, where we cover black and brown Major leaguers.
Seventy five percent of the content will be about the
current black and brown stars in Major League Baseball. The
other twenty five percent will take a look back at
some of the great black players. On the site, there'll
(32:14):
be a ton of great written stories and videos and features.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
MLB bro because you need to know MLB fans. When
it comes to Major League Baseball baseball, no one covers
it better than the odd cover fact.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I am the baseball kid first, second, third, and then
we're leading shows with baseball. They'll watch it.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
It'll not again, all in one place right here on
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
I love baseball. In the words of New York TV
legend the Late Bill Jorgensen thanking you for your time
this time until next time. Rob Parker out d can't Gavin.
This could be an inside of part See you next week.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Save bat time, same bath station,
From the Berkshars to the sound from wherever you live
in MLB America. This is Inside the Parker. You give
us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop
on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame
voter number fifty seven.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You have another hot take.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Will not and Ot make the playoffs show? Hey me
the money, Rob Parker, Come on, I've been covering Major
League baseball for almost forty years now, in New York,
in Cincinnati, in Detroit, in LA. I love this game.
Let's go. Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker,
(00:45):
and what a show we have for you today on
Inside the Parker. Coming up, we'll talk with former Major
league infielder and outfielder Jerry Harriston Junior. Also Detroit Tigers
radio color analy Bobby Scales also drops in that plus
foul a fare, let's go.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Better up to lead off. It's getting robbed and keep
them mind. Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories
in Major League Baseball. Number one.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I know there's a long way to go into baseball season.
It's a marathon and it's not a sprint, but there's
no way you can look at the Padres start through
the first nineteen games and not think that something special
is going on. Twelve and one at home and fifteen
and four coming into Thursday. What a start. And we
(01:43):
let's not forget about last year. I know they choked,
they were up three to one. They were supposed to
go to the World Series, not the Dodgers. You remember that, right,
and then for whatever reason, they couldn't score another run.
They scuffled, three games lost, and the Dodgers went on
to of course the World Series and beat the Yankees.
(02:03):
But this is a good team. This is not a fluke.
I'm not. If you watch the first podcast this season,
I picked the Padres to go to the World Series.
I know on paper, the Dodgers are a better team,
but take a close look at this Padres team. Twelve
and one at home, fifteen and four to start the season,
(02:26):
through nineteen games. This is a good team. They have
a shot. We're going to have a race. And we
haven't even mentioned the San Francisco Giants, who are mollywopping people,
scoring ten to eleven runs like it's going out of style.
Who would have thought that the NL West, with this
dominant Dodger team would have two other teams Right there
(02:48):
here we are as we get closer to the first
month of the season being over, the Padres follow them.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
They're good number two.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
It's only fitting that Aaron Judge was named Team USA
Captain for the upcoming WBC, the World Baseball Classic in
twenty twenty six. Aaron Judge has been phenomenal. The Yankee
slugger has won two of the last three American League MVPs.
Last year twenty twenty four, he wonted unanimously, and he
(03:22):
continues this year in twenty twenty five to bash the baseball.
We know how great sho hae Otani is and what
he's done for baseball, but as far as an American player,
Aaron Judge is it. He is the face of baseball.
Look at his stats. There was a recent stat the
first almost thousand games that the Babe Ruth and Aaron
(03:46):
Judge played for the Yankees with identical home run totals
that that's crazy that anybody would have identical home run
totals with the Babe in the same amount of games.
And actually Aaron Judge did it in less at bats,
which is even more impressive. But Aaron Judge is a
great representation for the United States and baseball. What can
(04:11):
you say. There's nothing bad about him. He's a great guy,
great smile, home run hitter. You know, that's what baseball
fans love. So of course baseball made the right choice.
It used to be Mike Trout. Even Mike Trout said
he's the guy. It makes sense. What a great move
by a team. USA. Number three Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer
(04:34):
Streyder became the fastest pitcher to record five hundred strikeouts.
He did it in just three hundred and thirty four innings.
The twenty six year old right hander missed last season
to injury, but he came back this season and of
course the Atlanta Braves need him in their rotation. They're
off to a bad start, but Strider is one of
(04:57):
those bright spots they have, and guy that they hope
will be in their rotation for years to come. But
that's incredible when you think about how long baseball has
been around and here he is, Spencer Stryder, the fastest
to five hundred strikeouts. Amazing. Here comes the big interviews.
Listen and learn. It's so good. Now, let's welcome in
(05:23):
Jerry Harriston junior. Of course, he played sixteen big league seasons.
One of the most versatile guys in baseball, played every
position except catcher and pitcher in the big leagues. We
know he started with the Dodgers, won a World Series
in two thousand and nine with the Yankees, and now
he is a analyst for sportsnet LA. Jerry, welcome into
(05:45):
the podcast. How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Great?
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Rap?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
How you doing? Man?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
I always great to see it, no doubt, great to
talk to you. And let's just get started on this
Dodger team. We know, on paper best team in baseball,
and they've won a lot of games, and no one
said that the sky has fallen. But if I would
have told you that they would be in third place
at any point during the season, I don't think anybody
(06:08):
would believe that. And I know it's early, but there's
competition in the West.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
There's competition the West. I think it's great for baseball.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
You know, credit to the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks,
danfrad Cisville Giants. They put really good teams together. Buster Posey,
you know a throwback player player I played against. He's
mixing a little bit of the analytics, but with also
what the old school style of playing, and they are
benefited from it. They're really playing great baseball. Padres. We
(06:37):
knew they were talented.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
You know, the.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
Padres were one game away last year from eliminating the Dodgers.
So trust me, here in LA we know how good
the Padres are. And the d Backs have as good
as starting rotation there is in the big leagues, so
they've always been good. So credit to those teams organizations
putting really good teams together.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Let's talk about Mookie Betts and the illness in Japan.
Couldn't play and still somehow got out there, made it
to opening day and even though with the weight loss,
I had some big hits or whatnot. Just talk about
Mookie and going through what he went through.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Well, listen, obviously, Mookie Bets is a game changing type
of player.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
I know he had a little bit of a summon buck.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
We've all had those summer bucks, and you know, sometimes
you lose, you know, ten pounds, sometimes you lose fifteen.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
For Mookie best it couldn't.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Happen at a worser time, but it's one of those
things where he wanted to play so bad he felt
a lot better. They were very, very optimistic that he
would get back on the field, which he did and
now he's off to a great start. So Mookie best
making that transition. In my opinion, the best right fielder
in the game. But you know, to save his legs
(07:49):
a little bit. And also, you know, we always talk
about athletes having that competitive drive.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
He wants to prove he came up as an infielder.
He wants to.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
Prove that he can be a great shortstop, and so
far he has looked great. Last year he was learning
on the fly and he had a little bit of
a hiccups, but he had an entire offseason to really get.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
Himself prepared to play shortstop, and rob he has looked
really good.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Really get a shortstop, and we know his hitting prowess,
he's as good as it gets at the play.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
So he's been fun to watch so far.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Former Major League infielder outfielder Jerry Harrison Junior joining us
here on inside the Parker. Let's not forget the elephant
in the room show, hey Otani. And of course year
number two with the Dodgers, year number one couldn't have
been better. Fifty to fifty a World Series Championship and whatnot.
Expectations can he perform the same or do we expect
(08:45):
a little drop, not fall off the cliff or anything,
But can he repeat fifty to fifty?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Here's the thing, the rob I'll play with a guy
named Albert Bell. He gets on me all the time.
Albert Bell also did fifty to fifty, but he did
it a different way. Fifty home runs, fifty doubles. Obviously
shoel ted. He did fifty to fifty to fifty home runs,
fifty stolen basis. I hope there's a drop off in
the stolen base department. I don't think anybody here with
the Dodgers want him to try to steal fifty bases,
(09:14):
especially now that he's going to be pitching probably the
next month or so, getting ready for the second half
of the season, making sure he's fresh.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
So I wouldn't put him pack going over the fifty
homer mark.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
This kid is incredibly talented, but as far as fifty
stone bases, I think they've kind of shut him down
a little bit. He gets steal some bases here and
there when we need it, but they don't want him
running like he did last year.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
He had a bad stolen base attempt in the game
in Washington. I think it was where Mookie was up
down three Yeah, you know what I mean, with two
guys on, Mookie was up and he winds up being
the third out at second base on just to play that.
You know, I know he had had a consecutive steal streak,
(10:01):
but that just there's times to run, Jerry, You know this,
there are times not to run. That was just a
bad play.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
One of those things where and you're exactly right, Robert,
and he admitted it. You know, he had messed up
right there. He he's the guy always trying to make
things happen. He was trying to get his core positions
for Mookie Bets. But you're right down three runs. Let
Mookie Bets swing the bat. But you know what, I
love our star players being aggressive, and now with that
play overly aggressive.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Yes, it was over the aggressive.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
But the reason why they're super superstar players is because
they do unique things, guys like Mookie Bets, Freddie Freeman
and Show Tani. So you know, he pushed the envelope
a little bit and he learned from that and he
has moved on. But you're right, man, he is a
game changing player, but in that situation he probably should
have stand Patent.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Let Mookie swing the back.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
You mentioned pitching and Otani returning to the mound. What's
stronger for the Dodgers is it their rotation or their bullpen?
Because they added a lot of pieces this past offseason
a pretty impressive.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Their bullpen has been impressive so far. We needed that bullpen.
Our starting rotation has been played a little bit so
far by injury. We lost Blake Snell. He's on the
aisle right now. Hopefully he comes back. We've had a
hard time eating up innings from the starter starting staff,
so hopefully that changes. But our bullpen has been outstanding.
That really carried us last year to a World Series championship.
(11:24):
Hopefully our starters would start going deeper in the ball
game to make sure our bullpen is fresh for the
rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
And I would be remiss if I didn't just ask you.
Obviously you be coming up as a Dodger, and just
we had Jackie Robinson Day on April fifteenth, nineteen forty seven,
when he broke the color barrier, and the Dodgers always
give the Dodgers credit. I mean, no organization has pushed
the Jackie Robinson legacy and made sure that we don't forget.
(11:57):
And you know, a lot of people love the Dodgers
for that that they were the organization that had an
open mind and made a dramatic change in the game
of baseball when he broke the color Barry, what does
it mean for you that Jackie Robinson played for the
Dodgers like you did.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
It means so much to me and Robers, You know
that I come from a family. My grandfather played in
the Eager Leagues and because of Jackie Robinson, he was
able to play in the big leagues as well. My grandfather,
Sam Harrison, with the ninth Black player to play in
the major leagues. And because of that, my dad, my uncle,
my brother Scott as well, all of us got a
(12:35):
chance to play.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
But his stepping on the field took tremendous courage.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
But the way he carried himself on the field and
off the field allowed others to thrive in a variety
of different fields.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Rob you have thrived in this game of baseball.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Really in the sports world as a writer, journalist, TV
personality because of jackie efforts and so many people that
have come after Jack allowing us to step on their
shoulders and thrive. So we owe so much to Jackie Robinson,
not just in the baseball world, not just in the
sports world, but really throughout this whole country.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
No doubt, he is an American hero without question and
changed this country forever. Always a pleasure. Jerry Harrisdon Junior
joining us here on Inside the Parker. Thanks for your
inside Jerry. We'll see you soon out at the ballpark.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Sounds good. I was going to see you rout.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
In case you missed Rob Parker on the MLB Networks,
here's his latest appearance on Mlbina.
Speaker 6 (13:37):
Rob Parker's in the showdown And just to give people
a little background, Robs on every week and Rob sends
in topics that he would like to discuss, and we
take that very seriously, and.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
We're already I'm stunned, Rob.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
We're already in the I Told you So part of
the season April fifteenth, and you're telling me so, So
go ahead, What did you tell me?
Speaker 2 (13:54):
And what should I learn from your brilliance?
Speaker 7 (13:57):
B K.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
I was trying to warn you, I told you earlier
in the season. I know it's still early, but can
we officially call Juan Soto. Je so so that told you, okay.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
Wan, he's not He's not exactly I know where you going.
He's not all right, he's not tearing it up for
those that are, No, Rob, you had the gumption to
come out and say, Juan Soto will struggle year one
in his Mets steal, which has happened to a lot
of Mets, but I said it will not happen to Sodo.
He's not torn it up. But Rob, he's got a
four hundred on base. He's he's doing fine. He's got
(14:33):
a four hundred.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
But you gotta admit BK two fifty two home run
six RBI, and he himself, in the newspaper in New
York Today this week, said that he misses Aaron Judge
hitting behind him. I mean, like he understands. Let's be honest.
Lineup Yankee Stadium a great hitters park for him as well. Right,
(14:59):
he had his best season ever. I mean, there's a
lot of different factors there. There's a big difference between
Queens and the Bronx. And it's not just taking the
bridge over to get to one of them.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Sorry, So what's the difference then, enlightening.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You're from Queens. What's the difference.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
It's just that there's But when you play with the Yankees,
there's a difference. And when you come to the Mets,
I just think people will pitch to you differently, will
not allow you to be the one to beat them.
And that's the hard part. And I think that's why.
Even going back to George Foster, who had fifty home
runs but the Reds the Mets and.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
He was a disaster.
Speaker 6 (15:34):
Yeah, there's a lot of Met disasters year one, right,
Even Carlos Beltron was terrible. Roberto Alomar came off a
great season, not good with the Mets. However, he's got
a four hundred on base right he's slugging, he just
started to hit home runs. His plate selection is still
state of the yard, so he's still quite good. He
has not exploded yet, but he's there. But I'll give
(15:56):
you credit. He did not come out of the gate
the way he did with the Yankees.
Speaker 8 (15:59):
All right, give you that, all right, And you'll say
that right now, and the only one, yeah, you're the
only one saying want so so, which takes Hootspa on
your on your case, all right, Ellie Dela Cruz was
my MVP candidate.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
You want to dump on Dela Cruz again, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Yes, he's been two thirty eight and he's striking out
still twenty strike out.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
Fifteenth, Rob, it's April fifteenth.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I know, I'll say this.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
He was tearing it up in spring training and he
did not come out of the gate strong.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I'll give you that, but it's way too early, Rob.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
He had the one big game with the two home runs.
He has a total of three the Reds of Scofflin.
All I'm saying is for him to win the MVP,
he's got to be better than what he's come out
of the gate, and there's already players who are tearing
it up. I just think it's going to be difficult,
and if he doesn't cut down on the strikeouts, he's
not going to win an MVP, and so far he's
(16:50):
still striking out. His last game he had three ks.
Speaker 6 (16:53):
It's a fair point you pick up. Then you picked
on one game. One game he had three k's. It
was one game, but all right, fair enough, all right,
here's another one. Ya best team in Southern California? God,
who's your best team in Southern California.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
It's the Los Angeles Angels. I know the Dodgers have
twelve wins. If people want to discount the Angels, what
have you watched? They are fun. What a good team
that they have put together right now? And you know what,
Mike Trout is healthy six home runs, fourteen RBIs and
this kid Tyron Paris at second base five home ones
(17:27):
already five steals. I mean, I love what the Angels
nine wins leading the Al West. Am I saying they're
going to the World Series? No, but they are a
surprised and I like what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
They are. You're not completely wrong. How sustainable?
Speaker 6 (17:43):
I mean, I love them too, and I love Logan o'happy,
but I mean, you can't go the whole season without
drawing a single walk, Like you're not gonna hit four
hundred all year.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
We're very early. Good for them, but we're very early.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
And you know, will Trout finish a season that remains
to be seen as well?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
No, no, doot it. I mean there's a long way
to go, but they could be two and fourteen in
the season, be over as we've seen years gone. By
the idea that they have nine wins so early in
this season, and Trout looks like the old Trout.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Is great news requite for them because he's the leader.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
I hate to pump the brakes on your Mike Trout train,
to use your phrase that I love now, pump the break.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
He's not Mike Trout, Mike Trout from years back. He's Mike.
He's a version of Mike Trout. He's not Mike Trout.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
All right, Jackie Robinson Day, I know you have kept
on making a difference. Mlbbro dot com highlights black ballplayers.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
You know what. This is year five of mlbbro dot com.
Jimoke Gamble Jr. Gamble and Mark Gray and I we
started this five years ago, and our vision was just
to try to reinvigorate the black community with Major League
Baseball and cover some of the black players that maybe
don't get BKA as much coverage and the Trent Grishams
(19:01):
people like that, you know, who don't get all the
coverage and whatnot, and tell their stories and their journeys.
And so far, I've been pleasantly surprised at the reception
that we've gotten. And we've gone from fourteen staffers in
twenty twenty one to seventy BK.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
We have seventy.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
That's tremendous.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
Mlbbro dot com people can face there. Also, I know
you want to bring up a guy who was instrumental
in getting Jackie Robinson to break through in the major leagues,
was a huge supporter, big time writer at the time,
Wendell Smith.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Tell us about Wendell Smith.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Let me say this about Wendell Smith, and this is
the reason I'm a proud hard carrier.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
Member of the BBWAA BK.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
He was approved for his card in.
Speaker 9 (19:49):
Nineteen forty seven, which is twenty years prior the Civil
Rights And you know what the temperature was in this
country for this organization to give Wendell Smith a Baseball Writers.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Card back in ninety four. Incredible.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
And this man was out there.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
In Jackie Robinson and trying to make the difference to
get him in the major leagues. And he's a big
part of baseball history and the story as well. So
I would love to honor Wendell Smith on this day
as well. Let's not forget well he was Jackie Robinson day.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
Also, by the way, like he's operating in a difficult
situation as well as he's moving through life.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Also, I threw up there, Rob.
Speaker 6 (20:32):
Like again, it's refreshing, it's surprising. It's nineteen sixty two,
first year on the Hall of Fame ballot. I just
showed this, Bob Feller, Jackie Robinson. He had Lou Burdeaux,
Ducky Medwick, Luke Kappling not getting seventy five percent. There's
a lack of racism with the baseball writers voting.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Into the Hall of Fame. Put Jackie Robinson in right
away year one.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
I agree, and think about this Jackie Robinson being Rookie
of the Year in nineteen forty seven, basically one black
writer right probably able to vote and all white writers
and Jackie Robinson won. And back then there was just
you know, one Rookie of the year and that was
it and Jackie won it.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
Good stuff, Rob, Thank you so much, mlbbro dot com
find out much more there. Rob's doing great work, Rob,
great having you on the show.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Always BK And remember I told you one so so
that's going to hold out for a few months.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
The post of the Daily News are like, how did
we not think of this?
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Pawn?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
So so all right, it's not happening, Rob, but thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
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 3 (21:44):
Now let's welcome into the podcast. Detroit Tigers radio color
analysts Bobby Scales and Bobby Welcome to the podcast. How
are you?
Speaker 2 (21:55):
I'm fantastic, Rob.
Speaker 10 (21:56):
Always a pleasure to be on.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
With you, no doubt appreciate it. Bobby's been doing radio
for the Tigers for the last three seasons. And the
Tigers had a great year last year, the postseason run.
And here we are twenty twenty five, and let's start
there with expectations for this team. What are they?
Speaker 10 (22:18):
Well, you know, it was interesting after the postseason run,
the Cleveland US got the Tyers in five games last year,
you know, went down to Houston, won a playoff series,
both games on the road, best two or three.
Speaker 9 (22:32):
You know.
Speaker 10 (22:32):
At the end of the year press conference, one of
the things that I thought was very interesting is that
AJ Hinch himself said that this was the floor, this
is now the new floor, this is the expectation. So
I think that was pretty succinct in what he said.
This is the expectation. So the playoffs are the expectations
for this Tiger ball club, and obviously the easiest path
to doing that. I say easy, as if winning one
(22:53):
baseball game in a Major League season is easy. But
the easiest path to do that is winning the division.
So I don't know that a Scott Harris has said
that per se, but if this indeed is the floor
getting to the playoffs, the easiest path is to win
the division, and that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Tiger's off to a good start ten of their first
seventeen games, and on Friday open up a three game
series at co America Park against the Kansas City Royals.
Let's talk about the pitching targ school boy of course,
American League. Cy Young last year had a couple of
bumpy starts, but has gotten it together. Just talk about
(23:30):
him and try to duplicate what he did last year.
I don't know if you could really do that, but
as close as possible.
Speaker 10 (23:38):
Yeah, and you're right, Robert, a couple starts early, not
even in truth, if you go back through those starts
with a fine tooth comb, you're talking about one or
two pitches here and there, and especially the Dodger start,
one or two pitches, he hung the change up to
Taoskar in the first pitch he jumped over for the
homer that got him out of the ball game. And
then in Seattle he was kind of the victim of
some poor luck. He had a couple they weren't they
(24:00):
didn't go as errors, but they were misplays behind him.
And then Dylan Moore hit beat him with a backside homer,
an opposite field homer on a hanging slider away, and
Dylan Moore hasn't been known for being a power hitter,
so you know, after that, it's been vintage Trek Scoogle.
Can you duplicate the triple crown from last year leading
the league and wins strikeouts in e r A. Maybe,
(24:22):
but it's gonna it's gonna be an unbelievable feat to
do that. So I definitely think he is doing exactly
what he needs to do. He's back on his last
few starts to have been vintage Schooble, so I have
there's no there's no concern or worry about him at
all as far as the rest of the guys go.
Jack Flaherty off to a nice start, throwing the ball well,
Casey Myves has been a very pleasant surprise for this
(24:43):
for this Tigers team. You didn't exactly know based on
you know, his injury history and the way he's pitched
in previous years, which you were gonna get worked on
a number of things. He really throws three different types
of sliders. One he really gets for a strike, one
he can get some swinging miss in his zone, and
a third one that's a little bit bigger. He gets
swinging miss strike the boss when you missed below the
zone with but his arsenal, he's throwing the ball a
(25:05):
little bit harder. The split is a little bit harder.
It's as nasty as I've seen in the last three
years too. And then you got the young fellow Jackson
job phenomenal stuff. If you ask some of the guys
on the staff, they think he has the best stuff
of them all at scooball included. And that's that's saying
a lot. He just has to learn how to pitch
at the major league level. Nothing left for him to
prove at the minor league level. Made the rotation out
(25:27):
of spring training and.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Deserve to be there.
Speaker 10 (25:29):
And then the guy that I personally think is is
he kind of gets lost in the shuffle, but he
was really, really good before he got hurt last year.
Is a kid out of Georgia named Rhees Olsen. He's unheralded,
but it's it's a four pitch mix. When he is
has his mix correct, there is really good.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
It's really good.
Speaker 10 (25:48):
When he gets a little too slighter, heavy, things get
out of whack for him. But when his mix is correct,
his stuff plays anywhere on any team in Major League Baseball.
He was fantastic last year. Every you know, you've seen
this enough, Robin, your career is that you have one
guy on the staff that is going to be for
whatever reason, the team doesn't score runs when he pitches well.
(26:09):
Ree Olsen was sitting at one in eight last year,
was like a two eight at one point, and then
got some run support and then pitched really well and
then ended up getting hurt and missed the majority of
the rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
But those five starters have done a tremendous job. I
guess is Bobby Scales Detroit Tigers radio color analysts want
to talk about the Tigers going out getting Glabor Torres
a free agent time play second base. Just about Glabor
fitting in with the Tigers, Well, he fits in.
Speaker 10 (26:36):
For one thing, he's a proven right handed bat. If
you look at how the Tigers are put together offensively
in their position player corps, they are very left handed.
And two things needed to happen. They needed to get
some right handed thump, and they needed to see the
resurgence of a player and Spencer torcosen that that that
we've seen thus far this year, and they did both.
(26:57):
Scott Harris targeted uh Glabor Torres. They were in the
Bergman's uh Bregman. Sweet Steakes didn't come up with Bregman.
He chose to go to Boston as we all know.
But Glabor Tors is a proven right handed bat in
this league. And you know, are there some defensive deficiencies, yes,
are they going to get better under you know, Joey
Koorra and the work that he's gonna do on the infield.
(27:17):
I think so if he can get to an average
major league average second baseman, uh, you know, great out
as average, I think that'll be a tremendous improvement. But
also we you know what you're gonna get with the bat,
and that's what really Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg and
the rest of the Tiger brain trust for buying. They
knew that coming in and so, uh, he's fitting. Well,
he's And you talk to the guys in the clubhouse,
(27:39):
they just say, glabor Tour is a baseball player, and
he's a pro and and and thus far, that's what
you've seen, and that's what you've gotten from glabor Tours.
Nothing should change.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
This year, all right, I stink of course. Bobby Scales,
Detroit Tigers radio color analyst, Bobby, thanks for joining inside
the park. And my man, we'll see you out of
the ballpark close to you soon.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Hope, So come see me.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
It was a big week in the big leagues.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Who's a five believers?
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Is it foul or is it fair?
Speaker 1 (28:15):
And now from mlbdbro dot com, here's Jrgambo.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Jr. Is it foul or fair to say that pitcher
Clayton Kersherw coming back for the Dodgers will have a
huge impact on their race for back to back World
Series Championships?
Speaker 11 (28:36):
Fair considering the plan was for Kershaw to lightly thread
through two innings rob but because he was tossing so effectively,
they stretched the thirty seven year old in his eighteenth
MLB season to a third inning. That's a great sign.
He threw thirty pitches and twenty two of them were
for strikes. Let's be honest, the Dodgers aren't counting on
(29:01):
their old ace to log major innings and lead the staff.
Those days are basically behind him. They already have a
plaque waiting for the great two time World Series champ
in Cooperstown. But he also has a lot to play for.
Does Kershaw a third World Series after all of the
(29:22):
talk about how he couldn't win the Big Game? To
wrap up his statistically dominant career with three rings would
be crazy work, wouldn't it. Kershaw also just thirty two
strikes short of the magical three thousand k mark. Remember,
(29:42):
ladies and gentlemen, it's been more than seven months since
Kershaw last toted the mound. In August of twenty twenty four,
he had to watch the Dodgers great championship run on
the bench, So that's more motivation for or a guy
who knows he's coming to the end of the road
(30:03):
and his body is breaking down. Kershaw is expected to
return no earlier than May, and even then, he isn't
expected to be immediately activated, they're gonna take some time.
So if he's healthy, the Dodgers have another luxury arm
down the stretch. And this season, you know, it's all
(30:27):
about the playoffs with Dave Roberts and his squad. And
wouldn't it be something if arrested Clayton Kershaw was available
to hop in that time machine, come back August through October,
get some clutch outs or even make a starting to clutch.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Yeah, the rich get richer.
Speaker 11 (30:47):
With the Dodgers stumbling in third place after an eight
no start and now trying to scrape back above the Padres,
they might want Cursehaw back.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Rather than later.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Make way for weekend wagers.
Speaker 12 (31:06):
Yo, it's shine bo, Fire up those bed naps, let's go.
Last week was a little up, a little down. We
got that win on Friday with the Giants with those
plus many dogs, and then took the l against the
Yankees on Saturday. But hey, let's go two and oh
this week get that green and what better way to
do it than behind those Sacramento as.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Yes, we're taking the dogs again on Friday. JT. Jen
is one to know so far in the year with
a one point six.
Speaker 12 (31:32):
To nine e and with the league leading home run
hitter and Soderstrum behind them. We think they could spoil
that home game against those Milwaukee Brewers. For Saturday, we
had the Queens New y'all go ahead and take the
New York Mexic Cody Sega minus one and a half
on the run line.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
They should do.
Speaker 12 (31:49):
Work against the Saint Louis Cardinals, who seem to be
floundering there.
Speaker 7 (31:53):
Hi, I'm Rob Parker, the founder and editor of MLB
broad dot com, where we cover black and brown Major leaguers.
Seventy five percent of the content will be about the
current black and brown stars in Major League Baseball. The
other twenty five percent will take a look back at
some of the great black players. On the site, there'll
(32:14):
be a ton of great written stories and videos and features.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
MLB bro because you need to know MLB fans. When
it comes to Major League Baseball baseball, no one covers
it better than the odd cover fact.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I am the baseball kid first, second, third, and then
we're leading shows with baseball. They'll watch it.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
It'll not again, all in one place right here on
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
I love baseball. In the words of New York TV
legend the Late Bill Jorgensen thanking you for your time
this time until next time. Rob Parker out d can't Gavin.
This could be an inside of part See you next week.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Save bat time, same bath station,
Host
Rob Parker
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