October 13, 2025 • 30 mins
Alanna Rizzo hosts and welcomes ESPN’s Jesse Rogers to dig into the bombshell: Padres manager Mike Shildt is retiring from the role. (Top of show)
(3:41) Rizzo and Rogers react to the Mariners winning ALCS Game 1 last night in Toronto and debate how the Blue Jays can level the series tonight.
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(8:00) Plus, a preview of the NLCS: will the Brewers continue their regular season success against the Dodgers?
(16:04) Inside Dish explores how the Cubs fell short this season. Rizzo and Rogers weigh their offseason outlook.
(22:10) Grillin' Jesse answers your questions, including Justin Steele's 2026 outlook, the best home field advantages left, starters turned relievers in October, David Ross' managing interest and if Buck Showalter could reunite with Manny Machado in San Diego.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello everybody, and welcome to this live edition of Fair Territory.
I am your host, Alana Rizzo, welcoming our guest, Jesse Rogers.
Of course you've seen him all over Major League Baseball,
primarily with ESPN and does a great job covering all
thirty teams. He's going to break down Game two of
the ALCS the beginning of the NLCS. Jesse, great to
(00:23):
be with you, But there is some breaking news out
of San Diego. It has been reported that Mike Schildt
has announced his retirement from managing the Padres. This is
per Kevin Ace of the San Diego Union. Tell me
more about what you know about this. It's interesting though,
the wording, my friend not retiring as a manager, but
retiring as manager of the Friars.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, I'm not using the language like quitting or stepping away.
I mean retiring from the manager of the Padres is
curious wording. So have to figure that out. I actually
know Mike well, as a lot of people do, and
this one a surprise to me. So there's got to
be more to this story than just that statement. Right,
So we'll find out. This team came up short in
(01:08):
the playoffs, but they made the playoffs, had really good
back to back seasons under Mike Schildt. He's done a
good job there, but they didn't get past those first
couple rounds, so we'll have to see.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
It's a bit surprising.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
But in San Diego, you know, we had changes ever
in the win there with Aj Preller in charge, but
we really got to get to the bottom of what
that wording actually means, Alana. So I think it's really
a surprise to people around baseball. Look, there's a lot
of managerial jobs open, so there's you know, not that
many great managers out there. According to general managers, he
(01:43):
was at least a good one that had good seasons.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
So this is a bit surprising. But there's got to
be more to this story.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Yeah, and you can read the story from Kevin ac
of the San Diego Union Tribune. He's the one that
broke the story, Jesse. And it's interesting though, because Mike
Schilt is walking away from a contract that has two
years remaining, citing a quote severe toll unquote the job
has taken on him quote mentally and physically. I mean,
people think, oh, San Diego a great place to live,
but with that expectation of a j Priller at the helmet.
(02:11):
Of course, with the recent passing of their former owner
Peter Sidler, you have to wonder if the expectation was
just too much. What's your take on the fact that
he's walking away citing mental and physical toll.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I just covered him in the playoffs in the first
round against the Cubs, and I was in on those
meetings because I was doing the sideline reporting, and yeah,
it's stressful. It's stressful, but he seemed to enjoy it.
But you never know what's going on in a person's personal life.
When it comes to this grind that these guys go on,
it takes a toll.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
It absolutely takes a toll.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I was joking within a GM recently about you know,
being away from your wife during during the playoffs and mentioned,
you know, we were talking about the husband Hall of Fame,
and the response was, is any husband in the Hall
of fame? When it comes to baseball? Like, if you're
in the sport, it's tough, it's tough. So yeah, it's
(03:10):
it's it's a grind, and I guess we none of
us should be shocked if someone steps away from from
from the daily grind. As good as those jobs are
as much as he wanted to do it again after
what happened in Saint Louis.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I think anybody in the sport can relate to the
stress and the grind of it all.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Yeah, I'm surprised most of us have not been dfaed.
Those that cover us cover this sport on a daily basis, Jesse.
Switching our focus now to the Alcs. Obviously, Game one
was last night. The Mariners take the win in Game
one against the Jayson Thank you just drew a blank there.
So obviously the Blue Jays looking to even things up tonight.
(03:49):
What was your biggest takeaway from Game one?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Oh, that's easy. The fact that the Mariners won.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I mean, come on, you're not supposed to win that
game fifteen innings, two nights before flying across the country there.
You're supposed to give that game away. You're supposed to
punt that game. They didn't do that, and it certainly
looked like they would in the first inning. Bryce Miller
settled down. He was the star of that game easily.
Of course cal Rawley did his thing. But the fact
(04:16):
that they just won that game is such a boost.
It's so obvious. I mean, Blue Jays need to win
today or you can pretty much call it because the
boost Seattle will get if they sweep there will be amazing.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
So that's it to me, Just the fact that they.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Grinded out a win, just, you know, a little while
after celebrating the fifteen inning affair in the Alds amazing,
amazing stuff by Bryce Miller after giving up that leadoff
home run.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Honestly, Jesse, when Bryce Miller gave up the leadoff home
run to George Springer on the first pitch, I was like,
oh jeez, that obviously didn't take long. But you're like,
here you go for the Mariners, their woes, and then
they lose Lucas and the you know, the first app
bat there looks like he's going to be okay, right,
neat contusion as far as that concerned. What's the most
impressive thing about the Mariners coming back and winning that game.
(05:05):
I know you talked about the fatigue from the fifteen
inning game prior, but just it seems like this has
been a resilient bunch. I know we throw that word
around a lot, but what's the most impressive thing?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Well, the fact that they did it and I think
one hundred pitches after Bryce Miller threw twenty seven in
the first inning, they just mowed him down after that.
This was a Blue Jays offense that was on fire
against the Yankees, on fire in the second half of
this season, and it just kind of disappeared after that
Springer homer. It just goes to show you and never
known baseball, but to finish throwing one hundred pitches after
(05:40):
twenty seven came in that first inning with a pitching
staff that was, you know, by definition tired after fifteen
innings and five games against the Tigers.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I thought that was the most amazing thing.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
And then most of the credit goes to Bryce Miller,
but also the relief corps that finished off that game
as well.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
So many stolen.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Right out from underneath the Toronto Blue Jays who got
off to that great start with the Springer homer, but
just could not muster anything after that.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, after that first inning with Nathan Lukes and Bryce
Milliger thinking oh, no, here we go, but the Mariners
getting the job done?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Are you?
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Does the fact that John Snyder took Kevin Gossman out
when he did, does that give you any sort of pause?
What was your take on that?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
It doesn't. It doesn't. And look, it's so interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
A lot of managers during the regular season are being
reactive most of the time. In the postseason, they have
to be proactive by definition. These are short series, especially
the best of three and best of five, best of seven.
Little different, maybe a little different, but you have to
make the move before your pitcher gets into deep trouble,
(06:48):
before he gives up runs, or in the regular season
you can react to it. It's just a different animal.
And look, he gave up the home run, he gave.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Up a walk.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
The walk after the home run is telling to me.
The pitch to Raleigh was you know, it wasn't the
best split. So so again, is he tiring a little bit?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
The walk? I get it. I totally get it. Now.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
The reliever after him didn't didn't perform, and you're gonna
second guess. But I understand being proactive. The first sign
of trouble by your start when he gets to the
fifth or sixth inning. These days, managers are going to
make the move. And you understand why. There's there's no
tomorrow essentially, even though there's a few games left, like
every game is so important, so I don't have a
(07:31):
problem with it. Maybe in another scenario I will have
a problem with it. But the walk after the home
run is what's telling to me. One pitch is one thing,
but then when you give up a free pass right
after that, that's that's to me that Okay, let's be
proactive about this, not reactive.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, quick hooks in the postseason, I understand exactly what
you're saying. Focusing now on the NLCS Jesse Rodgers, the Brewers,
of course, the host against the reigning champion Dodgers. This
is a Brewers team Jesse that's been unbelievable all season long,
best record in baseball. They've dominated the National League wire
to wire essentially, and they had the season series sweep
(08:11):
against the Dodgers in the regular season. Does that trickle
its way into the postseason six and oher in the
regular year?
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Absolutely not. It has nothing to do with it. The
Dodgers were banged up, some of their pitchers weren't even
on the roster at the time. The only thing it
might do is give some Brewers hitters some confidence against
some pitchers they faced already, or maybe as a team
you feel confident because you beat them a few times
in the regular season.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
But honestly, it means nothing.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
I covered the Cubs and Mets in twenty fifteen. The
Cubs went seven in oh in the regular season against
the Mets, and then in the postseason they lost four nothing.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
It really doesn't matter now.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It helped them win the season series and then the
best record in baseball because of they went six to
zero against the Dodgers, gave them home field advantage.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
So it wasn't meaningful at the time, But in.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Terms of a carryover effect, a lot of it really
has nothing to do with it.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
And the Dodgers get Blake Snell in Game one, Yoshinobu
Yamamoto in Game two. I feel, Jesse that this is
the first time all season and it's the most important
time that the Dodgers starting staff has been all together
and all healthy. How much does that factor into the
championship series.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Yeah, it's kind of wild.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
If you go back to early in the season, the
Dodgers had no starting pitching but plenty in the bullpen
before those guys kind of faltered and got hurt. The Brewers,
especially when they got healthy, had a ton in the
starting staff when they included Priest and Woodriff came back,
but now they're a little thin there, but have this
great bullpen. It's reversed itself. And the fact that they
(09:46):
can just pitch Otani one start back in La don't
need him to, you know, stretch him as a starter
or reliever and try to do crazy things with him,
is telling to me, just give him his one start
and let him hit the rest of the series because
they have enough now with klas Now Andy, I'm a Moto.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And Snow so yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I find it fascinating that the Borer's strength is their pen,
the Dodger strength as their starting staff and let's see,
you know, let the best man win, depending on how
that all works out. But it's it's gonna be a
tough task for those Burers hitters against the Dodger staff
coming together.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Joe Hey, O'tani not starting in at least the first
two games, and there's been a bit of an offensive
slump for the greatest guy in the game, Jesse Rodgers,
When you're talking about Otani, does that make you scratch
your head a little bit? What are you seeing in
his at bats? Should Dodgers fans be concerned?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Look, there's a lot of guys through four or six
or eight postseason games that struggle.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Not a lot of rhyme or reason to it.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
I guess if you added up ten octobers in a
row for a guy, you know, that's a sample size. Sure,
but my feeling, and I guarantee you this is what
the Brewers are feeling. Okay, he was slumping, then we're
in trouble now.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
It's kind of like that guy that has a bad
string training watch out and the con versus true. If
you're great in March, you're usually bad in April. So
I think that's the only way to look at this.
I picked him for the MVP of the series simply
because he did slump. How long is he going to slump?
It's probably not going to be for two more series
or even one more, so I don't see anything in
(11:20):
his bats inherently that would cause that much concern. But
let's see one more series and then you might say, well, wow,
this is an extended slump. So I think he comes
out of it. I don't know if it's tonight, but
certainly in this series.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, he's a hard man to keep down for long.
His countrymen and teammate Roki Sasaki. Jesse is this man
at the closer that the Dodgers fans didn't know they needed.
I swear he was gone for six months. Nobody knew
where he was. That two pitch pitcher has come up
big and has paid huge dividends in the pen. What
do you make of it?
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, that's what you love about baseball, right, you never know?
They signed Tanner Scott, they signed Kirby, spend so much
money and it's this rookie, young rookie rookie Sasaki who
is supposed to be a starter that's in there. And
I know that they do not want to pitch a
multiple innings.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Like they had to the other day.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I think they really just want one inning and save
the arm, be careful with it and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I mean, that's what two pitch pitchers really are meant for,
is the bullpen and maybe even closing. But obviously he's
good enough and to start in the major leagues and
he'll develop as a starter. But I think it's a
brilliant idea. I mean, I think it's a brilliant idea.
It wasn't really stretched out. Let's put him in the
back end. We don't have anybody back there right now,
(12:41):
and let's rock and roll. He's still an unknown in
this league. That stuff is so new. Hitters are having
a tough time picking up, And you know, I was
talking to a veteran who said, yeah, sometimes playoff experience
is great, but there's also the other side of the coin,
when you're kind of young and dumb, that's fun too.
You don't know any better, and I don't think Sasaki
knows the ninth inning is supposed to be that difficult.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
So I love the move. It's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
What to start. Contrasts from the time in which he
was in the Dodgers dugout crying after a bad outing
and being really emotional to striking out j t rail
Muto to move on, Jesse, Let's brag on the Brewers
a little bit. The average joes they are not. What
is the role of Jacob Mazerowski in the cs oh.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
I mean, he's going to get a ton of innings.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Whether he starts in the first inning or comes in
in the second remains to be seen. Not a big difference, right,
He's going to pitch four to five innings each time out,
and that's the deal. Just depends on the setup, if
they want him to avoid Otani in the first inning
or whatnot.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
But boy, that's an electric arm and he's able to
harness it.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I think it's no coincidence that his two postseason appearances
both came at home, and I think they'd like to
use most of his bulk innings at home if possible.
I'm not saying they won't use him on the road,
but I could understand him being avoided at Wrigley Field.
So I think tonight is a good opportunity, or I
(14:04):
should say, in the next couple of days. But it
doesn't mean he won't pitch in LA I just think
he's more comfortable at home. Sort of harness that and
use the crowd to his advantage. But he'll start or
get some bulke innings in one of these early games
and they'll go from there. But what an arm, what
a talent, and if he could continue to harness it.
You know, his last outing against the Cubs, first time
(14:25):
in seventeen appearances, he did not issue a walk.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
I mean this was four hintings too. It wasn't just
a onedning stint.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
So I mean, if he's not issuing walks and he's
dotting at one hundred.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Watch out at guy's a weapon.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Yeah, twenty twenty five All Star the Miz. We'll see
him come up big, hopefully for the Brewers in this series.
Coming up here on Fair Territory with Jesse Rogers today,
our special guest Ken Rosenthal is honestlim but we're going
to go with Jesse talking about the Cubs, the inside dish,
what went wrong, and what does their offseason look like.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
We'll be right back, b.
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Speaker 3 (16:00):
Where where where were.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
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Speaker 3 (16:06):
Right?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Time now for Inside Dish with Jesse Rogers. And I know, Jesse,
you cover all thirty teams for ESPN, but you spend
a lot of times, a lot of time covering the
Cubs and the White Sox in your home base of Chicago.
What went wrong with the Cubs in terms of the postseason,
if you will, And what does their offseason look like
in your estimation?
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Yeah, it's kind of interesting a lot.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I actually think they reached their ceiling, like winning a
playoff series, getting to Game five and losing on the road.
And I do think even though five of their nine
regular hitters hit under two hundred in the postseason, like
that's gonna happen. You're gonna have your good moments and
bad moments. Offensively, it was a good offense it. It
was a great offense early and then just not as
(16:51):
great second half, but in general, it is what it
is offensively.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
I actually think they were short.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
On the mountain and they didn't prepare for this at
the trade deadline in particular, and maybe even going back
to last offseason. Now, you can't manage every injury like
Justin Steele went down early. You can't use that excuse
in the postseason. But they did lose Kate Horton very late,
and you can't overcome that necessarily. So they they were
(17:18):
down one guy, but they're also a little bit thin.
And the bigger story is their bullpen was pieced together
and it did well. But they had one pitcher who
really can strike guys out at one hundred, and that's
Daniel Palencia and he's still harnessing his talent. They had
a second pitcher who is a spring invitee who could
(17:39):
pop at ninety six ninety seven and Brad Keller, and
he did well.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
But they didn't fortify, for.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Example, at the deadline like some of these other teams did.
Duran changed hands and I don't even care if these
all these players did well or not. Hellesley and Bednar
and Duran and you know Finn Again, it doesn't matter
that they should have done more if they thought about
winning four rounds of the postseason.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
So I feel like they hit their ceiling. But it
was a good year.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
I'm not sure what they can do to sort of
go from ninety two wins to ninety seven or ninety eight,
but I do think they can maintain the team.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
That they have here. I think they need to do
more on the mound.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Their position player group is basically set barring what you know.
Forget Kyle Tucker for a moment, because that's a big
what if in right field, But other than that, they've
got a decent group and a couple of young players
knocked on the door to come up. But I don't
think things went wrong. I just think they hit their
ceiling and didn't have home field advantage.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
There we go, Jesse. I think I lost you there
for a second, but I think I have you back.
Let me ask you this about Kyle Tucker. Is Kyle
Tucker in a Cub's uniform next season as he enters
into free agency this year?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I think when you get to this point and he
hasn't already re signed. I think there's a tendency that
they move on now. Once in a while, a player
might go out and get an offer and bring it
back to his team. I don't see the Cubs operating
like that. You know, the Cubs are kind of stuck
in the middle. They don't spend like the Dodgers or Mets,
(19:19):
but they certainly spend more than a lot of teams,
and more than even their their rivals in the Central Division.
But it's not unlimited, and I think if there was
a deal to be had, it would have been earlier
after they traded for him, like we saw Lynn Door
do with the Mets or Matt Olsen with the Braves.
So I think the writings a little bit on the wall.
Not impossible, especially if he wanted a short term deal.
(19:41):
If he accepted the qualifying offer, all very doubtful. Most
free agents want the security once they get there. You know,
he had a couple of injuries in the second half.
I don't think the Cubs want to tie up thirty
five or forty million in one player, especially one year
before a new labor deal. They have one of their
top prospects knocking on the door in right field, Owen
Casey he could take over for Tucker. They still have, say,
(20:01):
it's a Zookie under contract who played decently in the
outfield out there. So I think there's a bunch of
reasons that are piling up, but mostly because we're already
here the offseason and he hasn't re signed. Why would
the Cubs engage with him after he can engage with
twenty nine other teams. Doesn't make much business sense on
the Cubs part. And I just feel like Tucker's going
(20:23):
to get a better offer elsewhere.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Yeah, very likely the one year that he was with
the Chicago Cubs. Ironically too, the Houston Astros not making
the postseason this year for the first time in a
long time. All Right, coming up on fair territory with
Jesse Rogers today, we're gonna ask Jesse some questions. So
get those questions in for him because we are going
to grill him next.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
We'll be right back.
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Speaker 3 (21:52):
Only.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Jesse Rogers would show up to a barbecue in a
suit and time now to grill you, Jesse. The first
question is in regards to Justin Steel. Ryan wants to
know is he supposed to be ready by spring? What's
the big picture outlook for Justin?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I don't think he'll be ready to take regular turns
in the rotation by spring, but certainly early in the season,
maybe May, if I'm remembering it correctly, So he'll be
a little bit behind everybody else, but not too far.
And I think you can you can hope to consider
him as a major contributor in twenty twenty six, even
if it is in April.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
First, Okay, all division winners Jesse Rodgers are advancing, of course, Toronto, Milwaukee, Seattle,
and Los Angeles. I would want you to rank the
home atmospheres of the four remaining teams standing. Let's start
with the American leg. Let's start with Toronto.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
I would put it at a six and a half.
It's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
They're nice in Canada, though they're not gonna be springing
the opponent's game like the regally crowd was with Freddy Peralta.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
But it can get rockets for sure up there. Maybe
maybe more than six and a half.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I gotta be honest, I haven't been to a game
in Toronto in a few years, so I shouldn't downgrade it.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
But it's pretty darn good. I'll put it that way,
all right.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
They're gonna have the roof open tonight. I wonder if
that makes any sort of difference in terms of that outcome.
What about Seattle? Obviously Seattle, We're going to get to
Rob's question in just a second. Seattle, right ranks Seattle
than LA, than Milwaukee.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Yeah, I mean Seattle is probably one among those three.
I mean, it's been just crazy there and it will
only take another take it to another level in the ALCS.
I mean, you know, the Dodger fans, it can be
very good, it can be very good. But I will
say the Brewer fans reacted, I think, to what was
going on at really and brought it in Game five.
(23:50):
I put the Brewers and Dodgers similar. Dome open, don't close.
Can make a difference, certainly, but I think I think
most people would say Dodger Stadium can get going, and
and fam Field as well. But I'd put safeg above them.
I'd put what happens in Seattle above those two.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
All right, it's gonna be interesting to see. I think
the Citizens Bank fans the most difficult place to go
into and play. Unfortunately, the Phillies have been kicked out.
All right, We're gonna have much more questions after this,
but one really quick one from rob What do you
think about the tactic of turning starters into relievers in
the postseason? Will we see more of this in the
coming years. We have about sixty seconds to answer this
(24:28):
one easy.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
The answer is yes.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
I mean unless you somehow have for healthy, ready to
go starters like the Dodgers have, only because they slow
played them. Even Doc Roberts said yesterday, Yeah, we could
have pitched Blake Snell earlier in the year, but we didn't.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
So the Dodgers are one thing.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
I think you're gonna see openers and folk innings and
just trying to get twenty seven outs. Hopefully the agents
catch up with it and say, hey, my guys pitching
inning two through four, pay him in the playoffs, you know,
for what he does in the playoffs. Oh, I think yes.
The answers we're going to see more weird permutations of
how pitchers are used in the postseason unless you simply
(25:08):
have four decent starters ready to rock and roll, and
very few teams do.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Hey, for those of you still with us, we're glad
that you are still here. A couple of more questions
for Jesse Rodgers. This is a fair question. Jesse I
wonder this too. Robert just has a simple one David Ross.
I don't know if that means for San Diego or
another open managerial spot. What do you think?
Speaker 2 (25:29):
It's funny because I do think he'd be a decent
fit in San Diego. I mean, the sort of theme
around Ross would be put him with a veteran club
or one that's ready to win more than a rebuilding one,
just for obvious reasons. He's kind of that grizzled you know,
Grandpa Ross, right, But I think he learned a lot
in his first gig. There's a ton of openings. He's
(25:50):
going to end up somewhere. I wouldn't doubt that Preller
will interview him. I don't doubt that the thinking, the
common thinking is Baltimore, Atlanta for sure, and now why
not throw San Diego into the mix. So I think
Ross is the right guy at the right time in
a lot of ways, like being out of the game
and you know, coming back into it with so many
(26:11):
openings I think, and he didn't leave.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
In it with a bad reputation at all.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
So I do think he gets one of these gigs,
and San Diego would be intriguing for sure.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Let me ask you a quick question about Manny Ramier
or Manny Ramirez, Manny Manchado. Do you think that there's
a Bucks Show Walter Manny Machado reunion in San Diego.
We'll see what happens in San Diego. A lot of
managerial openings for all of you watching. We're gonna still
wait and see if Jesse Rogers comes back. Put some
(26:40):
questions in the chat here. I'll see if I can
answer any of these for you guys. It says it's over,
says the Orioles and Rays will bounce back, while either
the Yankees or Red Slacks will fall back and end
up in last place. It's an interesting take in terms
of it's over. Who were the free Phillies free agents
next year? A lot Johnny Owen, Kyle Schwarber obviously the biggest,
(27:01):
Probably free agents, Ranger Suarez the free agents of course,
with the Philadelphia Phillies. Let's see, imagine if the Mets
get Kyle and the Phillies get Pete Alonzo. How funny
will that be? It would be that would certainly shake
up the NL East, if you will, Who else do
we have in the chat here? As we wait for
Jesse to come back on, Johnny Owen, Why would anyone
(27:24):
want to manage the Padres? Aj Preller just trades the
farm every deadline. That's not necessarily true, Johnny, because one
thing that aj Preller does is he spends money, and he,
much like Jerry Depoto in Seattle, is willing to make moves.
I mean, you can't fault the front office and the
ownership group for what they were able to do with
the San Diego Potters. They brought in a tremendous amount
(27:45):
of talent Allah Mason Miller to fortify what was already
a ridiculously good bullpen. I mean, San Diego is a
winnable team. This is a team that obviously spends money.
They can certainly compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers in
the n L West. I think San Diego is a
very desirable place to manage. A lot of it depends,
perhaps on the culture Jesse, and I don't know. I
(28:06):
was answering a question, welcome back, my friend, Johnny. No
one asked, No, it's okay. Why would anybody Johnny wants
to know, why would anybody want to manage the Padres?
I think it's a desirable place. It just you know,
you have that's a team that spends money. I mean,
why why should why should managers want to go to
San Diego?
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Well, first of all, it's one of thirty great jobs
that we have in this industry. It is San Diego,
nice place to live. They are trying to compete. Now
we'll see if they're going to continue to spend money.
But look, plenty have teams that don't spend money compete
as well. It's tough to be in the division with
the Dodgers, but that's why you have three wildcards. You
(28:46):
got to win on the margins. If you're not going
to spend, you got to develop. That's what these smaller
markets like Milwaukee do. So it's desirable for a lot
of reasons. You still have to tease there. You still have,
you know, a good core. Why not San Diego. J
Preler doesn't meddle too much with his managers. I don't
think it's a good job to have. It's just tough
(29:08):
to beat the Dodgers. But you have to think about
the wild card most years, and that's okay too.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
So I don't see why not San Diego.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Yeah, have you been to San Diego? I'll take it.
Anybody want to hire me, I'll take it. That's gonna
do it. For this episode of Fair Territory with our
guest Jesse Rogers, we appreciate your insight as always, best
of luck covering the NLCS. Thanks for being with us today, guys,
I'm your host Elana Rizzo, Ken Rosenthal and myself. We'll
be back on Wednesday a special episode of Fair Territory
(29:38):
with Ken. We'll see you next time. Take care. Bet
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Hello everybody, and welcome to this live edition of Fair Territory.
I am your host, Alana Rizzo, welcoming our guest, Jesse Rogers.
Of course you've seen him all over Major League Baseball,
primarily with ESPN and does a great job covering all
thirty teams. He's going to break down Game two of
the ALCS the beginning of the NLCS. Jesse, great to
(00:23):
be with you, But there is some breaking news out
of San Diego. It has been reported that Mike Schildt
has announced his retirement from managing the Padres. This is
per Kevin Ace of the San Diego Union. Tell me
more about what you know about this. It's interesting though,
the wording, my friend not retiring as a manager, but
retiring as manager of the Friars.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, I'm not using the language like quitting or stepping away.
I mean retiring from the manager of the Padres is
curious wording. So have to figure that out. I actually
know Mike well, as a lot of people do, and
this one a surprise to me. So there's got to
be more to this story than just that statement. Right,
So we'll find out. This team came up short in
(01:08):
the playoffs, but they made the playoffs, had really good
back to back seasons under Mike Schildt. He's done a
good job there, but they didn't get past those first
couple rounds, so we'll have to see.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
It's a bit surprising.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
But in San Diego, you know, we had changes ever
in the win there with Aj Preller in charge, but
we really got to get to the bottom of what
that wording actually means, Alana. So I think it's really
a surprise to people around baseball. Look, there's a lot
of managerial jobs open, so there's you know, not that
many great managers out there. According to general managers, he
(01:43):
was at least a good one that had good seasons.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
So this is a bit surprising. But there's got to
be more to this story.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Yeah, and you can read the story from Kevin ac
of the San Diego Union Tribune. He's the one that
broke the story, Jesse. And it's interesting though, because Mike
Schilt is walking away from a contract that has two
years remaining, citing a quote severe toll unquote the job
has taken on him quote mentally and physically. I mean,
people think, oh, San Diego a great place to live,
but with that expectation of a j Priller at the helmet.
(02:11):
Of course, with the recent passing of their former owner
Peter Sidler, you have to wonder if the expectation was
just too much. What's your take on the fact that
he's walking away citing mental and physical toll.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I just covered him in the playoffs in the first
round against the Cubs, and I was in on those
meetings because I was doing the sideline reporting, and yeah,
it's stressful. It's stressful, but he seemed to enjoy it.
But you never know what's going on in a person's personal life.
When it comes to this grind that these guys go on,
it takes a toll.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
It absolutely takes a toll.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I was joking within a GM recently about you know,
being away from your wife during during the playoffs and mentioned,
you know, we were talking about the husband Hall of Fame,
and the response was, is any husband in the Hall
of fame? When it comes to baseball? Like, if you're
in the sport, it's tough, it's tough. So yeah, it's
(03:10):
it's it's a grind, and I guess we none of
us should be shocked if someone steps away from from
from the daily grind. As good as those jobs are
as much as he wanted to do it again after
what happened in Saint Louis.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I think anybody in the sport can relate to the
stress and the grind of it all.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Yeah, I'm surprised most of us have not been dfaed.
Those that cover us cover this sport on a daily basis, Jesse.
Switching our focus now to the Alcs. Obviously, Game one
was last night. The Mariners take the win in Game
one against the Jayson Thank you just drew a blank there.
So obviously the Blue Jays looking to even things up tonight.
(03:49):
What was your biggest takeaway from Game one?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Oh, that's easy. The fact that the Mariners won.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I mean, come on, you're not supposed to win that
game fifteen innings, two nights before flying across the country there.
You're supposed to give that game away. You're supposed to
punt that game. They didn't do that, and it certainly
looked like they would in the first inning. Bryce Miller
settled down. He was the star of that game easily.
Of course cal Rawley did his thing. But the fact
(04:16):
that they just won that game is such a boost.
It's so obvious. I mean, Blue Jays need to win
today or you can pretty much call it because the
boost Seattle will get if they sweep there will be amazing.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
So that's it to me, Just the fact that they.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Grinded out a win, just, you know, a little while
after celebrating the fifteen inning affair in the Alds amazing,
amazing stuff by Bryce Miller after giving up that leadoff
home run.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Honestly, Jesse, when Bryce Miller gave up the leadoff home
run to George Springer on the first pitch, I was like,
oh jeez, that obviously didn't take long. But you're like,
here you go for the Mariners, their woes, and then
they lose Lucas and the you know, the first app
bat there looks like he's going to be okay, right,
neat contusion as far as that concerned. What's the most
impressive thing about the Mariners coming back and winning that game.
(05:05):
I know you talked about the fatigue from the fifteen
inning game prior, but just it seems like this has
been a resilient bunch. I know we throw that word
around a lot, but what's the most impressive thing?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Well, the fact that they did it and I think
one hundred pitches after Bryce Miller threw twenty seven in
the first inning, they just mowed him down after that.
This was a Blue Jays offense that was on fire
against the Yankees, on fire in the second half of
this season, and it just kind of disappeared after that
Springer homer. It just goes to show you and never
known baseball, but to finish throwing one hundred pitches after
(05:40):
twenty seven came in that first inning with a pitching
staff that was, you know, by definition tired after fifteen
innings and five games against the Tigers.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I thought that was the most amazing thing.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
And then most of the credit goes to Bryce Miller,
but also the relief corps that finished off that game
as well.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
So many stolen.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Right out from underneath the Toronto Blue Jays who got
off to that great start with the Springer homer, but
just could not muster anything after that.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, after that first inning with Nathan Lukes and Bryce
Milliger thinking oh, no, here we go, but the Mariners
getting the job done?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Are you?
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Does the fact that John Snyder took Kevin Gossman out
when he did, does that give you any sort of pause?
What was your take on that?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
It doesn't. It doesn't. And look, it's so interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
A lot of managers during the regular season are being
reactive most of the time. In the postseason, they have
to be proactive by definition. These are short series, especially
the best of three and best of five, best of seven.
Little different, maybe a little different, but you have to
make the move before your pitcher gets into deep trouble,
(06:48):
before he gives up runs, or in the regular season
you can react to it. It's just a different animal.
And look, he gave up the home run, he gave.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Up a walk.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
The walk after the home run is telling to me.
The pitch to Raleigh was you know, it wasn't the
best split. So so again, is he tiring a little bit?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
The walk? I get it. I totally get it. Now.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
The reliever after him didn't didn't perform, and you're gonna
second guess. But I understand being proactive. The first sign
of trouble by your start when he gets to the
fifth or sixth inning. These days, managers are going to
make the move. And you understand why. There's there's no
tomorrow essentially, even though there's a few games left, like
every game is so important, so I don't have a
(07:31):
problem with it. Maybe in another scenario I will have
a problem with it. But the walk after the home
run is what's telling to me. One pitch is one thing,
but then when you give up a free pass right
after that, that's that's to me that Okay, let's be
proactive about this, not reactive.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, quick hooks in the postseason, I understand exactly what
you're saying. Focusing now on the NLCS Jesse Rodgers, the Brewers,
of course, the host against the reigning champion Dodgers. This
is a Brewers team Jesse that's been unbelievable all season long,
best record in baseball. They've dominated the National League wire
to wire essentially, and they had the season series sweep
(08:11):
against the Dodgers in the regular season. Does that trickle
its way into the postseason six and oher in the
regular year?
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Absolutely not. It has nothing to do with it. The
Dodgers were banged up, some of their pitchers weren't even
on the roster at the time. The only thing it
might do is give some Brewers hitters some confidence against
some pitchers they faced already, or maybe as a team
you feel confident because you beat them a few times
in the regular season.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
But honestly, it means nothing.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
I covered the Cubs and Mets in twenty fifteen. The
Cubs went seven in oh in the regular season against
the Mets, and then in the postseason they lost four nothing.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
It really doesn't matter now.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It helped them win the season series and then the
best record in baseball because of they went six to
zero against the Dodgers, gave them home field advantage.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
So it wasn't meaningful at the time, But in.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Terms of a carryover effect, a lot of it really
has nothing to do with it.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
And the Dodgers get Blake Snell in Game one, Yoshinobu
Yamamoto in Game two. I feel, Jesse that this is
the first time all season and it's the most important
time that the Dodgers starting staff has been all together
and all healthy. How much does that factor into the
championship series.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Yeah, it's kind of wild.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
If you go back to early in the season, the
Dodgers had no starting pitching but plenty in the bullpen
before those guys kind of faltered and got hurt. The Brewers,
especially when they got healthy, had a ton in the
starting staff when they included Priest and Woodriff came back,
but now they're a little thin there, but have this
great bullpen. It's reversed itself. And the fact that they
(09:46):
can just pitch Otani one start back in La don't
need him to, you know, stretch him as a starter
or reliever and try to do crazy things with him,
is telling to me, just give him his one start
and let him hit the rest of the series because
they have enough now with klas Now Andy, I'm a Moto.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And Snow so yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I find it fascinating that the Borer's strength is their pen,
the Dodger strength as their starting staff and let's see,
you know, let the best man win, depending on how
that all works out. But it's it's gonna be a
tough task for those Burers hitters against the Dodger staff
coming together.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Joe Hey, O'tani not starting in at least the first
two games, and there's been a bit of an offensive
slump for the greatest guy in the game, Jesse Rodgers,
When you're talking about Otani, does that make you scratch
your head a little bit? What are you seeing in
his at bats? Should Dodgers fans be concerned?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Look, there's a lot of guys through four or six
or eight postseason games that struggle.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Not a lot of rhyme or reason to it.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
I guess if you added up ten octobers in a
row for a guy, you know, that's a sample size. Sure,
but my feeling, and I guarantee you this is what
the Brewers are feeling. Okay, he was slumping, then we're
in trouble now.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
It's kind of like that guy that has a bad
string training watch out and the con versus true. If
you're great in March, you're usually bad in April. So
I think that's the only way to look at this.
I picked him for the MVP of the series simply
because he did slump. How long is he going to slump?
It's probably not going to be for two more series
or even one more, so I don't see anything in
(11:20):
his bats inherently that would cause that much concern. But
let's see one more series and then you might say, well, wow,
this is an extended slump. So I think he comes
out of it. I don't know if it's tonight, but
certainly in this series.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, he's a hard man to keep down for long.
His countrymen and teammate Roki Sasaki. Jesse is this man
at the closer that the Dodgers fans didn't know they needed.
I swear he was gone for six months. Nobody knew
where he was. That two pitch pitcher has come up
big and has paid huge dividends in the pen. What
do you make of it?
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, that's what you love about baseball, right, you never know?
They signed Tanner Scott, they signed Kirby, spend so much
money and it's this rookie, young rookie rookie Sasaki who
is supposed to be a starter that's in there. And
I know that they do not want to pitch a
multiple innings.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Like they had to the other day.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I think they really just want one inning and save
the arm, be careful with it and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I mean, that's what two pitch pitchers really are meant for,
is the bullpen and maybe even closing. But obviously he's
good enough and to start in the major leagues and
he'll develop as a starter. But I think it's a
brilliant idea. I mean, I think it's a brilliant idea.
It wasn't really stretched out. Let's put him in the
back end. We don't have anybody back there right now,
(12:41):
and let's rock and roll. He's still an unknown in
this league. That stuff is so new. Hitters are having
a tough time picking up, And you know, I was
talking to a veteran who said, yeah, sometimes playoff experience
is great, but there's also the other side of the coin,
when you're kind of young and dumb, that's fun too.
You don't know any better, and I don't think Sasaki
knows the ninth inning is supposed to be that difficult.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
So I love the move. It's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
What to start. Contrasts from the time in which he
was in the Dodgers dugout crying after a bad outing
and being really emotional to striking out j t rail
Muto to move on, Jesse, Let's brag on the Brewers
a little bit. The average joes they are not. What
is the role of Jacob Mazerowski in the cs oh.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
I mean, he's going to get a ton of innings.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Whether he starts in the first inning or comes in
in the second remains to be seen. Not a big difference, right,
He's going to pitch four to five innings each time out,
and that's the deal. Just depends on the setup, if
they want him to avoid Otani in the first inning
or whatnot.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
But boy, that's an electric arm and he's able to
harness it.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I think it's no coincidence that his two postseason appearances
both came at home, and I think they'd like to
use most of his bulk innings at home if possible.
I'm not saying they won't use him on the road,
but I could understand him being avoided at Wrigley Field.
So I think tonight is a good opportunity, or I
(14:04):
should say, in the next couple of days. But it
doesn't mean he won't pitch in LA I just think
he's more comfortable at home. Sort of harness that and
use the crowd to his advantage. But he'll start or
get some bulke innings in one of these early games
and they'll go from there. But what an arm, what
a talent, and if he could continue to harness it.
You know, his last outing against the Cubs, first time
(14:25):
in seventeen appearances, he did not issue a walk.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
I mean this was four hintings too. It wasn't just
a onedning stint.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
So I mean, if he's not issuing walks and he's
dotting at one hundred.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Watch out at guy's a weapon.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Yeah, twenty twenty five All Star the Miz. We'll see
him come up big, hopefully for the Brewers in this series.
Coming up here on Fair Territory with Jesse Rogers today,
our special guest Ken Rosenthal is honestlim but we're going
to go with Jesse talking about the Cubs, the inside dish,
what went wrong, and what does their offseason look like.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
We'll be right back, b.
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Speaker 3 (16:00):
Where where where were.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
All?
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Right?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Time now for Inside Dish with Jesse Rogers. And I know, Jesse,
you cover all thirty teams for ESPN, but you spend
a lot of times, a lot of time covering the
Cubs and the White Sox in your home base of Chicago.
What went wrong with the Cubs in terms of the postseason,
if you will, And what does their offseason look like
in your estimation?
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Yeah, it's kind of interesting a lot.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I actually think they reached their ceiling, like winning a
playoff series, getting to Game five and losing on the road.
And I do think even though five of their nine
regular hitters hit under two hundred in the postseason, like
that's gonna happen. You're gonna have your good moments and
bad moments. Offensively, it was a good offense it. It
was a great offense early and then just not as
(16:51):
great second half, but in general, it is what it
is offensively.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
I actually think they were short.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
On the mountain and they didn't prepare for this at
the trade deadline in particular, and maybe even going back
to last offseason. Now, you can't manage every injury like
Justin Steele went down early. You can't use that excuse
in the postseason. But they did lose Kate Horton very late,
and you can't overcome that necessarily. So they they were
(17:18):
down one guy, but they're also a little bit thin.
And the bigger story is their bullpen was pieced together
and it did well. But they had one pitcher who
really can strike guys out at one hundred, and that's
Daniel Palencia and he's still harnessing his talent. They had
a second pitcher who is a spring invitee who could
(17:39):
pop at ninety six ninety seven and Brad Keller, and
he did well.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
But they didn't fortify, for.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Example, at the deadline like some of these other teams did.
Duran changed hands and I don't even care if these
all these players did well or not. Hellesley and Bednar
and Duran and you know Finn Again, it doesn't matter
that they should have done more if they thought about
winning four rounds of the postseason.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
So I feel like they hit their ceiling. But it
was a good year.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
I'm not sure what they can do to sort of
go from ninety two wins to ninety seven or ninety eight,
but I do think they can maintain the team.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
That they have here. I think they need to do
more on the mound.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Their position player group is basically set barring what you know.
Forget Kyle Tucker for a moment, because that's a big
what if in right field, But other than that, they've
got a decent group and a couple of young players
knocked on the door to come up. But I don't
think things went wrong. I just think they hit their
ceiling and didn't have home field advantage.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
There we go, Jesse. I think I lost you there
for a second, but I think I have you back.
Let me ask you this about Kyle Tucker. Is Kyle
Tucker in a Cub's uniform next season as he enters
into free agency this year?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I think when you get to this point and he
hasn't already re signed. I think there's a tendency that
they move on now. Once in a while, a player
might go out and get an offer and bring it
back to his team. I don't see the Cubs operating
like that. You know, the Cubs are kind of stuck
in the middle. They don't spend like the Dodgers or Mets,
(19:19):
but they certainly spend more than a lot of teams,
and more than even their their rivals in the Central Division.
But it's not unlimited, and I think if there was
a deal to be had, it would have been earlier
after they traded for him, like we saw Lynn Door
do with the Mets or Matt Olsen with the Braves.
So I think the writings a little bit on the wall.
Not impossible, especially if he wanted a short term deal.
(19:41):
If he accepted the qualifying offer, all very doubtful. Most
free agents want the security once they get there. You know,
he had a couple of injuries in the second half.
I don't think the Cubs want to tie up thirty
five or forty million in one player, especially one year
before a new labor deal. They have one of their
top prospects knocking on the door in right field, Owen
Casey he could take over for Tucker. They still have, say,
(20:01):
it's a Zookie under contract who played decently in the
outfield out there. So I think there's a bunch of
reasons that are piling up, but mostly because we're already
here the offseason and he hasn't re signed. Why would
the Cubs engage with him after he can engage with
twenty nine other teams. Doesn't make much business sense on
the Cubs part. And I just feel like Tucker's going
(20:23):
to get a better offer elsewhere.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Yeah, very likely the one year that he was with
the Chicago Cubs. Ironically too, the Houston Astros not making
the postseason this year for the first time in a
long time. All Right, coming up on fair territory with
Jesse Rogers today, we're gonna ask Jesse some questions. So
get those questions in for him because we are going
to grill him next.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
We'll be right back.
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Speaker 3 (21:52):
Only.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Jesse Rogers would show up to a barbecue in a
suit and time now to grill you, Jesse. The first
question is in regards to Justin Steel. Ryan wants to
know is he supposed to be ready by spring? What's
the big picture outlook for Justin?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I don't think he'll be ready to take regular turns
in the rotation by spring, but certainly early in the season,
maybe May, if I'm remembering it correctly, So he'll be
a little bit behind everybody else, but not too far.
And I think you can you can hope to consider
him as a major contributor in twenty twenty six, even
if it is in April.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
First, Okay, all division winners Jesse Rodgers are advancing, of course, Toronto, Milwaukee, Seattle,
and Los Angeles. I would want you to rank the
home atmospheres of the four remaining teams standing. Let's start
with the American leg. Let's start with Toronto.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
I would put it at a six and a half.
It's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
They're nice in Canada, though they're not gonna be springing
the opponent's game like the regally crowd was with Freddy Peralta.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
But it can get rockets for sure up there. Maybe
maybe more than six and a half.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I gotta be honest, I haven't been to a game
in Toronto in a few years, so I shouldn't downgrade it.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
But it's pretty darn good. I'll put it that way,
all right.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
They're gonna have the roof open tonight. I wonder if
that makes any sort of difference in terms of that outcome.
What about Seattle? Obviously Seattle, We're going to get to
Rob's question in just a second. Seattle, right ranks Seattle
than LA, than Milwaukee.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Yeah, I mean Seattle is probably one among those three.
I mean, it's been just crazy there and it will
only take another take it to another level in the ALCS.
I mean, you know, the Dodger fans, it can be
very good, it can be very good. But I will
say the Brewer fans reacted, I think, to what was
going on at really and brought it in Game five.
(23:50):
I put the Brewers and Dodgers similar. Dome open, don't close.
Can make a difference, certainly, but I think I think
most people would say Dodger Stadium can get going, and
and fam Field as well. But I'd put safeg above them.
I'd put what happens in Seattle above those two.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
All right, it's gonna be interesting to see. I think
the Citizens Bank fans the most difficult place to go
into and play. Unfortunately, the Phillies have been kicked out.
All right, We're gonna have much more questions after this,
but one really quick one from rob What do you
think about the tactic of turning starters into relievers in
the postseason? Will we see more of this in the
coming years. We have about sixty seconds to answer this
(24:28):
one easy.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
The answer is yes.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
I mean unless you somehow have for healthy, ready to
go starters like the Dodgers have, only because they slow
played them. Even Doc Roberts said yesterday, Yeah, we could
have pitched Blake Snell earlier in the year, but we didn't.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
So the Dodgers are one thing.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
I think you're gonna see openers and folk innings and
just trying to get twenty seven outs. Hopefully the agents
catch up with it and say, hey, my guys pitching
inning two through four, pay him in the playoffs, you know,
for what he does in the playoffs. Oh, I think yes.
The answers we're going to see more weird permutations of
how pitchers are used in the postseason unless you simply
(25:08):
have four decent starters ready to rock and roll, and
very few teams do.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Hey, for those of you still with us, we're glad
that you are still here. A couple of more questions
for Jesse Rodgers. This is a fair question. Jesse I
wonder this too. Robert just has a simple one David Ross.
I don't know if that means for San Diego or
another open managerial spot. What do you think?
Speaker 2 (25:29):
It's funny because I do think he'd be a decent
fit in San Diego. I mean, the sort of theme
around Ross would be put him with a veteran club
or one that's ready to win more than a rebuilding one,
just for obvious reasons. He's kind of that grizzled you know,
Grandpa Ross, right, But I think he learned a lot
in his first gig. There's a ton of openings. He's
(25:50):
going to end up somewhere. I wouldn't doubt that Preller
will interview him. I don't doubt that the thinking, the
common thinking is Baltimore, Atlanta for sure, and now why
not throw San Diego into the mix. So I think
Ross is the right guy at the right time in
a lot of ways, like being out of the game
and you know, coming back into it with so many
(26:11):
openings I think, and he didn't leave.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
In it with a bad reputation at all.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
So I do think he gets one of these gigs,
and San Diego would be intriguing for sure.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Let me ask you a quick question about Manny Ramier
or Manny Ramirez, Manny Manchado. Do you think that there's
a Bucks Show Walter Manny Machado reunion in San Diego.
We'll see what happens in San Diego. A lot of
managerial openings for all of you watching. We're gonna still
wait and see if Jesse Rogers comes back. Put some
(26:40):
questions in the chat here. I'll see if I can
answer any of these for you guys. It says it's over,
says the Orioles and Rays will bounce back, while either
the Yankees or Red Slacks will fall back and end
up in last place. It's an interesting take in terms
of it's over. Who were the free Phillies free agents
next year? A lot Johnny Owen, Kyle Schwarber obviously the biggest,
(27:01):
Probably free agents, Ranger Suarez the free agents of course,
with the Philadelphia Phillies. Let's see, imagine if the Mets
get Kyle and the Phillies get Pete Alonzo. How funny
will that be? It would be that would certainly shake
up the NL East, if you will, Who else do
we have in the chat here? As we wait for
Jesse to come back on, Johnny Owen, Why would anyone
(27:24):
want to manage the Padres? Aj Preller just trades the
farm every deadline. That's not necessarily true, Johnny, because one
thing that aj Preller does is he spends money, and he,
much like Jerry Depoto in Seattle, is willing to make moves.
I mean, you can't fault the front office and the
ownership group for what they were able to do with
the San Diego Potters. They brought in a tremendous amount
(27:45):
of talent Allah Mason Miller to fortify what was already
a ridiculously good bullpen. I mean, San Diego is a
winnable team. This is a team that obviously spends money.
They can certainly compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers in
the n L West. I think San Diego is a
very desirable place to manage. A lot of it depends,
perhaps on the culture Jesse, and I don't know. I
(28:06):
was answering a question, welcome back, my friend, Johnny. No
one asked, No, it's okay. Why would anybody Johnny wants
to know, why would anybody want to manage the Padres?
I think it's a desirable place. It just you know,
you have that's a team that spends money. I mean,
why why should why should managers want to go to
San Diego?
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Well, first of all, it's one of thirty great jobs
that we have in this industry. It is San Diego,
nice place to live. They are trying to compete. Now
we'll see if they're going to continue to spend money.
But look, plenty have teams that don't spend money compete
as well. It's tough to be in the division with
the Dodgers, but that's why you have three wildcards. You
(28:46):
got to win on the margins. If you're not going
to spend, you got to develop. That's what these smaller
markets like Milwaukee do. So it's desirable for a lot
of reasons. You still have to tease there. You still have,
you know, a good core. Why not San Diego. J
Preler doesn't meddle too much with his managers. I don't
think it's a good job to have. It's just tough
(29:08):
to beat the Dodgers. But you have to think about
the wild card most years, and that's okay too.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
So I don't see why not San Diego.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Yeah, have you been to San Diego? I'll take it.
Anybody want to hire me, I'll take it. That's gonna
do it. For this episode of Fair Territory with our
guest Jesse Rogers, we appreciate your insight as always, best
of luck covering the NLCS. Thanks for being with us today, guys,
I'm your host Elana Rizzo, Ken Rosenthal and myself. We'll
be back on Wednesday a special episode of Fair Territory
(29:38):
with Ken. We'll see you next time. Take care. Bet
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