August 9, 2024 • 16 mins
Our resident MLB insider Gene Watson joins the program as the race for the playoffs begins to heat up in August. Craig and Gene discuss the latest divisional races including the AL West and more!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we head further into the weekend. Now, of course
we talked baseball as well, and something I wouldn't say
it's weird, it's going on, and maybe it's not even
really that unexpected, but it's always a phenomenon to observe,
and that is the division and even the wildcard races tightening.
(00:21):
Joining us on the hotline as he does every week
from the Chicago White Sox front office, our MLB insider
and Texas native Gene Watson is doing it, Gino, How
you doing, man?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
What's going on? Craig?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
I always think about you when I start seeing these
division races and these wildcard races tighten up. So like
here in the American League East, Oriols and the Yankees
deadlocked right now. In the Central the Guardians have lost
six in a row and the Twins have closed.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Within two and a half.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
And yes, the Kansas City Royals that you were a
big part of the rebirth and the rebuilding of the roads.
Only three and a half out of the division. In
the West, the Astros and Mariners are tied for first.
The Rangers are five and a half back. The safest
division leads at least for the moment, are in the
National League East and West, the Phillies lead of eight
games is on the Mets, not the Braves, who have.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Lost five in a row and are kind of struggling
a bet.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
In the Central the Brewers are up seven they look
pretty solid against with the seven game lead on the Cardinals.
And in the West, the Dodgers, who have dropped six
of their last ten, have seen their division leads shrink
to two and a half over the white hot Padres
and three and a half on the red hot Diamondbacks.
(01:38):
Going it what do you make of all these division
races and Howler's starting to tighten up, And that also
goes through to the wild cards standings, where if the
postseason began today, the three wildcards in the American League,
you'd have the Yankees, and you'd have the Yankees and
Twins as wildcards in the American League. And in the
National League you've had the Padres and Diamondbacks as wild
(01:59):
cards in the National League, and then the Mets and
Royals right there as third teams out of each league.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
What do you make of all this?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Well, one, it's really really great for the game because
you know, as we roll into mid August, now school's
about to get started. College football is about to be
a big thing. The NFL is about to kick off.
And when you have this many markets within Major League
Baseball that still have teams competing for wildcard spots, which
ultimately is what I believe the Commissioner's office hadn't planned
(02:32):
when they added the extra wildcard spots.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's truly great for the game. It's great for the cities.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
It just builds a morale within the cities, especially some
of the smaller markets that don't get a lot.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Of chances to experience October baseball.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
To have twenty plus teams still hanging around for playoff
spots on August ninth is really a great thing for
the game.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Well, this is why I always to echo your words,
great for the game, and I understand, and I have
a lot of respect for some real baseball purists, like
a Bob Costers or some of the others who have
not felt the same way because they're more older traditionalists,
and you and I have a lot of traditionalists in
each of our souls. But I've always just thought, if
(03:17):
you give fans a reason to go to the ballpark
in the dog days of August and into September. It
could only be good for the game if you think
your team still has a shot to get in the postseason.
And as we said, the Rangers are just the latest
example last year of just find a way to get
in and if you're in, and it was like that
(03:37):
with your Marlins when you were there, find a way
get in and then good things can happen.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Yeah, and really, you know, it gets to counter to
and you know, and I agree, Craig. I mean, I'm
as old school and traditionalists as there is, but I
really think the adjustments that the Commissioner's Office has made
with the rule changes and with the playoff spots has
been tremendous for the game.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
But what it.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Really does is it's the counter to the people that
say the season is too long, because you know, look
at your Dodgers that have just been incredibly injured all
season long. Look at the Texas Rangers that have been
injured most of the season. To me, the teams that
take a lot of injuries early, it keeps them in
play to make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Teams that have really sound, tread down lines.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
And can you hear me, Craig, Yeah, yeah, we got you,
We got you. Yeah, and just really teams, teams that
take injuries, teams that make great trades at the deadline,
and the last part of it is teams that have
prospects that can come up the second half and and
(04:46):
help their teams get.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
To the to the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
It's it's really great to have so much parody within
the game.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
No doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Gene Watson joining us here as we talk Major League
Baseball and let me get your thoughts on the two
teams in the West are really making a push at
the Dodgers right now, the Padres and the Diamondbacks. Because
the Padres have one eight out of ten, they won
five in a row. How are they getting it done?
I Mean, we know they've always could hit, but now
(05:13):
we're starting to see what pitching. Obviously your former guy
Dylan Ceas winding up with a with a no hitter
for them, and then the Diamondbacks they almost kind of
looked like at times.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
That they're doing it with mirrors.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
But yet Tory Lavello has it going again, and here
they are with a late season charges like they did
a season ago when going all the way to the
World Series.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Yeah, aj Preller really did a tremendous job at the deadline,
and I think aj knows where things are in the organization.
He's uh, he's done a lot of made a lot
of trades and really.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Really like let the system go, and so can you
hear me?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Still got you here? Still got you here?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I don't think that. Sorry, yeah, I'm here feedback. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
So so I just think he's done a great job
book of really exhausting his system to get this team
into October. The Jason Adam trade was tremendous for him
in Arizona. This is what they did last year. They
were really kind of lipping in to September. They were
kind of struggling right along. They were going to make
a baseline decision about mid August. They had a big
series in Arizona and one and they just took off.
(06:20):
So that's really what you're looking for right now. If
you're within five games, you're looking for that, you know,
seven to ten game win streak. What San Diego has done.
They've won like thirteen of sixteen and really doing a
great job the.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Second half, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Gene Watson joining us here to talk Major League Baseball,
and we're talking about these.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
About these races.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Now, you brought up the injuries, and the team I
root for isn't the only one that's had to deal
with it, certainly, but the Dodgers did have ten pitchers
on the il as recent as about three weeks ago,
and other teams have had, the Rangers having to deal
with it, and several other teams having a deal with
all the injuries. What is the thing that you hear
(07:05):
as being the reasons why we have seen the rise
in injuries. I know there's been a lot of debate
about whether the pitch clock has something to do with
Major League Baseball was vehemently opposed to any suggestion that
that was the case, and they were adamantly outspoken and saying,
(07:27):
all of our research, all of the medical research shows
that nothing of the kind like that has anything to.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Do with the injuries.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
So it does beg the question that what is the
situation then, If not that, what might it be when
we're seeing pitchers in a more specialized era of baseball
coming up with all of these season ending injuries and
having one Tommy John and two Tommy John surgeries and
things like that that are taking them out of the game.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Well, Craig.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
This is something that I could talk for weeks about.
I mean, it's something that I'm very passionate about. Gear
to my heart, my son suffered Tommy John and labor
and surgery as a professional pitcher. I just think we've
reached a generation of players that are so much bigger
and stronger. They've got so much more information. It's a
power game now. Everybody's chasing velocity. It's pitch shape, it's
(08:17):
pitch design. It's not about making pitches. It's not about
controlling the running game. It's not about any of that.
It's just velocity, pitch shape, and pitch design and pitch
present percentages within a cold quadrant. And I think that
pitchers train differently now than they used to. I know,
you know, being around a lot of old school guys,
it was a lot of cardiocular a lot of distance
(08:39):
running bikes after games, and now it's just a different game.
And so I have urged a lot of people within
the industry to try to, you know, kind of reach
back into a time capsule and.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Get with some of the older pitchers that we're.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Throwing two hundred and twenty five, two hundred and fifty
innings sometimes three hundred innings a year, and we just
don't see that anymore.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
And as I've said before, we're paying more, we've.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Got more information, sports science, more everything, but we're getting
less production. It's certainly something that Major League Baseball is
going to have to dress in the future.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Okay, all right, so let me get your thoughts now
on I'm going to ask you about some other teams
and your thoughts on what they've done. I mentioned the
Minnesota Twins have started really making run on the Guardians,
and obviously our regular texter has been pretty excited about
the Guardian season. But of late they've struggled. They've lost
(09:32):
six in a row, and the Twins have gotten hot.
So what's your take on that American League Central race
right now? And the Royals are just off the pace
by the way, Well, the Royals.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Arguably have one of the best young groups of position
players in the game of baseball. What they did so
well this winter is go out and add Michael Walka
and ad Seth Lugo. They haven't really figured the bullpen
out yet. I know JJ Piccolo wanted to do that.
At the trade deadline, they addressed in some ways, but
not completely but for the long term Kansas City. Kansas
(10:05):
City is really set up nicely Minnesota. You know, you
look at the team on paper and it's not, you know,
the most star power team, but they play so well
together and whenever Byron Buxton is healthy and rolling, uh,
they're going to be a better team. Willie Cashtrow is
an all star that you move all over the diamond.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
He does really well.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Royce Lewis is one of the best young players in
the game. They've got a lot of production from veteran
Carlos Santana with his fifteen home runs this year, and
they've got a lockdown closer in Juleon Durant. I mean,
that's that's how they kind of do it. It's not,
you know, it's not the like star power names that
you would think of, but they just play well collectively.
And Rockaball Delly does a tremendous job with.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
That called Okay all right to the East that it
continues to be just the mono al mono battle between
the Orioles and the Yankees. Seems like they have been
swapping out first place or tied for the division lead
for the past three months and and don't look now
but the Red Sox are kind of creeping back into
with their five and a half back.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Well, i'll tell you what, people better beware of the
Red Sox because what I was saying earlier about you've
got a nice young team and former Longhorn David Hamilton
has just become the spark plug of that ball club.
I mean he stills bases, play solid defense, He's got
just enough power to be dangerous, and he's been a
true ad to that team. Rafella at shortstop and center
(11:25):
field has done a great job. Willie Ibar has done
a tremendous job offensively. But they collectively have possibly the
best young prospects in the game, all playing together in
Portland in Kyle Teel and Marcelo Meyer.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
And Roman Anthony.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
And if those guys, if they make an advanced decision
before September one to give these guys a crack at
the major league level to help them make that final push,
the Red Sox could really be dangerous. The Orioles have
really been scuffling. I think they've lost like fifteen of
twenty two, six.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
In a row.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
They're really it just feels like that they've got to
just get on a nice run to try to turn
things around. But something feels a little bit different about
the Yankees this year, where they've really, you know, struggled
to fight through the last couple of years. This feels
like a different kind of ball club. And Garrett Cole,
if he can get rolling nextra Quartees can be consistent.
(12:17):
This is a team offensively that is going to score runs,
They play sound events, and they've got a chance to
be the New York Yankees that everybody's expected the going
to be the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
All right, how about to the West and the Astros
and Mariners tied for first and the Rangers five and
a half back right now, even though they've had some
struggles and stumbles of late, but they're five and a
half back. But the Astros and Mariners again for the
past two to three weeks, seems to have been swapping
out the division lead.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
I just can't say enough about what the Houston Astros
have done.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I mean, this is in today's game, to.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Be able to go to seventh straight American League Championships,
win two World Championships, completely deplete your minor league system,
fall back as much as they did in May, and
just to still be hanging around.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
It's just incredible.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
It just speaks so much to Jim Crane and the
job that Dana Brown has done and how that core
group just continues to show up. I mean, where so
many teams struggle to show up year after year, the
Astros just seem to get it done. And you look
at the Texas Rangers and kind of the fog that
they've been in all year long.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
They've never really.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Been able to find that rhythm that they found last
season and winning a World championship.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
But it's not too late.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
They've got some injured players that are coming back soon,
and Seattle just has to to score more runs. They're
just they're gonna pitch every night, they're gonna play sound defense,
but they've really struggled all season long to score runs
and they've got to find a way to try to
impact that lineup somehow in the next six weeks.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
All right, So, speaking of fog, as were a moment
will go what the world's going on with the Atlanta Braids.
They've there now would be not in the postseason, and
if it started, it'd be out of the Wildcard race.
They've dropped five in a row. I know, there's injuries
just like draw with a lot of the other teams.
Is it just that or are there some other head
scratching things going on in Atlanta?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
No, I really think that's it, Craig.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Anytime you lose an Ozzie Albi's to injury, you know,
Ronaldo Lopez is hurt right now, you know, Spencer Strider.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Those are enormous losses to your club.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Your number one starter, your catalysts on your lineup, and
one of your best pitchers in the rotation.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
It's really really hard to overcome things like that.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Ronald mccuna has been out, Michael Harris has been out.
I mean, it just they've been strapped with injuries to
their most talented players, and it's really taking its soul
on the ball club.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Okay, and one other team. It's kind of been a
bit of a curiosity of late. They're back above the
five hundred mark. They're in the wildcard race, and that's
the Cardinals right now, and even the Pirates are still
on the fringe of that as they go into Los Angeles.
They got schemes on the mound this week, But what
about the Cardinals? And uh, you know, because I know
(15:04):
that's surprised from folks without. They've kind of flipped the
script a bit.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Well, you know, they kind of just always lay below
the radar. They kind of just just they know who
they are. They've got a great identity. They don't really
put themselves out there and and and you know, put
a lot of high expectations. But one of the bigger
acquisitions that they made over the deadline was Tommy Fam
And to bring Tommy Fam back into that clubhouse, we
(15:29):
traded him over there along with Eric Fetty to bring
him into that clubhouse. Just the competitive spirit that that
guy brings and the accountability he brings to the clubhouse
and the edge that he brings to that dugout.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
That was an enormous, enormous pickup.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
And if you remember the kid from Stanford a few
years ago that pitched against Texas Matthews one hundred fifty six.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Absolutely, yeah, he's throwing. He's absolutely throwing great in the
minor leagues.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
That's the guy that could be coming up in the
next few weeks and impact that pitching rotation. And they
just they do a great job of just knowing who
they are as an organization. They don't really you know,
put themselves out there with a lot of foolah and
they just go out and play cardinal baseball and once
again they're right in the mix.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Final thing. Here are the Mets for real?
Speaker 4 (16:15):
I think they are. I think I think that division
is just going to be so tough. The Phillies are
just so incredibly tough, and it's gonna be hard.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I think the Phillies are gonna come away with that
at the end. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Can the Mets be a wildcard?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Possibly?
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
They got to stay healthy and they there's not.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
A lot of help that's going to come from the system,
but they're going to have to play really good baseball
down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
All right.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
He's Gene Watson, joins us each week on the program. Hey,
I appreciate the time, you know, have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
You bet correct, Thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
All right, that's Steve Watson, who joins us dark Major
League Baseball on the program each week. All right, up next,
we'll hear from longwrn's head coach Steve Sarkejan when we
continue on sports Radio AM thirteen under the Zone in
the iHeartRadio Act.
As we head further into the weekend. Now, of course
we talked baseball as well, and something I wouldn't say
it's weird, it's going on, and maybe it's not even
really that unexpected, but it's always a phenomenon to observe,
and that is the division and even the wildcard races tightening.
(00:21):
Joining us on the hotline as he does every week
from the Chicago White Sox front office, our MLB insider
and Texas native Gene Watson is doing it, Gino, How
you doing, man?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
What's going on? Craig?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
I always think about you when I start seeing these
division races and these wildcard races tighten up. So like
here in the American League East, Oriols and the Yankees
deadlocked right now. In the Central the Guardians have lost
six in a row and the Twins have closed.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Within two and a half.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
And yes, the Kansas City Royals that you were a
big part of the rebirth and the rebuilding of the roads.
Only three and a half out of the division. In
the West, the Astros and Mariners are tied for first.
The Rangers are five and a half back. The safest
division leads at least for the moment, are in the
National League East and West, the Phillies lead of eight
games is on the Mets, not the Braves, who have.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Lost five in a row and are kind of struggling
a bet.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
In the Central the Brewers are up seven they look
pretty solid against with the seven game lead on the Cardinals.
And in the West, the Dodgers, who have dropped six
of their last ten, have seen their division leads shrink
to two and a half over the white hot Padres
and three and a half on the red hot Diamondbacks.
(01:38):
Going it what do you make of all these division
races and Howler's starting to tighten up, And that also
goes through to the wild cards standings, where if the
postseason began today, the three wildcards in the American League,
you'd have the Yankees, and you'd have the Yankees and
Twins as wildcards in the American League. And in the
National League you've had the Padres and Diamondbacks as wild
(01:59):
cards in the National League, and then the Mets and
Royals right there as third teams out of each league.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
What do you make of all this?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Well, one, it's really really great for the game because
you know, as we roll into mid August, now school's
about to get started. College football is about to be
a big thing. The NFL is about to kick off.
And when you have this many markets within Major League
Baseball that still have teams competing for wildcard spots, which
ultimately is what I believe the Commissioner's office hadn't planned
(02:32):
when they added the extra wildcard spots.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's truly great for the game. It's great for the cities.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
It just builds a morale within the cities, especially some
of the smaller markets that don't get a lot.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Of chances to experience October baseball.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
To have twenty plus teams still hanging around for playoff
spots on August ninth is really a great thing for
the game.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Well, this is why I always to echo your words,
great for the game, and I understand, and I have
a lot of respect for some real baseball purists, like
a Bob Costers or some of the others who have
not felt the same way because they're more older traditionalists,
and you and I have a lot of traditionalists in
each of our souls. But I've always just thought, if
(03:17):
you give fans a reason to go to the ballpark
in the dog days of August and into September. It
could only be good for the game if you think
your team still has a shot to get in the postseason.
And as we said, the Rangers are just the latest
example last year of just find a way to get
in and if you're in, and it was like that
(03:37):
with your Marlins when you were there, find a way
get in and then good things can happen.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Yeah, and really, you know, it gets to counter to
and you know, and I agree, Craig. I mean, I'm
as old school and traditionalists as there is, but I
really think the adjustments that the Commissioner's Office has made
with the rule changes and with the playoff spots has
been tremendous for the game.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
But what it.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Really does is it's the counter to the people that
say the season is too long, because you know, look
at your Dodgers that have just been incredibly injured all
season long. Look at the Texas Rangers that have been
injured most of the season. To me, the teams that
take a lot of injuries early, it keeps them in
play to make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Teams that have really sound, tread down lines.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
And can you hear me, Craig, Yeah, yeah, we got you,
We got you. Yeah, and just really teams, teams that
take injuries, teams that make great trades at the deadline,
and the last part of it is teams that have
prospects that can come up the second half and and
(04:46):
help their teams get.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
To the to the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
It's it's really great to have so much parody within
the game.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
No doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Gene Watson joining us here as we talk Major League
Baseball and let me get your thoughts on the two
teams in the West are really making a push at
the Dodgers right now, the Padres and the Diamondbacks. Because
the Padres have one eight out of ten, they won
five in a row. How are they getting it done?
I Mean, we know they've always could hit, but now
(05:13):
we're starting to see what pitching. Obviously your former guy
Dylan Ceas winding up with a with a no hitter
for them, and then the Diamondbacks they almost kind of
looked like at times.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
That they're doing it with mirrors.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
But yet Tory Lavello has it going again, and here
they are with a late season charges like they did
a season ago when going all the way to the
World Series.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Yeah, aj Preller really did a tremendous job at the deadline,
and I think aj knows where things are in the organization.
He's uh, he's done a lot of made a lot
of trades and really.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Really like let the system go, and so can you
hear me?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Still got you here? Still got you here?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I don't think that. Sorry, yeah, I'm here feedback. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
So so I just think he's done a great job
book of really exhausting his system to get this team
into October. The Jason Adam trade was tremendous for him
in Arizona. This is what they did last year. They
were really kind of lipping in to September. They were
kind of struggling right along. They were going to make
a baseline decision about mid August. They had a big
series in Arizona and one and they just took off.
(06:20):
So that's really what you're looking for right now. If
you're within five games, you're looking for that, you know,
seven to ten game win streak. What San Diego has done.
They've won like thirteen of sixteen and really doing a
great job the.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Second half, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Gene Watson joining us here to talk Major League Baseball,
and we're talking about these.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
About these races.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Now, you brought up the injuries, and the team I
root for isn't the only one that's had to deal
with it, certainly, but the Dodgers did have ten pitchers
on the il as recent as about three weeks ago,
and other teams have had, the Rangers having to deal
with it, and several other teams having a deal with
all the injuries. What is the thing that you hear
(07:05):
as being the reasons why we have seen the rise
in injuries. I know there's been a lot of debate
about whether the pitch clock has something to do with
Major League Baseball was vehemently opposed to any suggestion that
that was the case, and they were adamantly outspoken and saying,
(07:27):
all of our research, all of the medical research shows
that nothing of the kind like that has anything to.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Do with the injuries.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
So it does beg the question that what is the
situation then, If not that, what might it be when
we're seeing pitchers in a more specialized era of baseball
coming up with all of these season ending injuries and
having one Tommy John and two Tommy John surgeries and
things like that that are taking them out of the game.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Well, Craig.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
This is something that I could talk for weeks about.
I mean, it's something that I'm very passionate about. Gear
to my heart, my son suffered Tommy John and labor
and surgery as a professional pitcher. I just think we've
reached a generation of players that are so much bigger
and stronger. They've got so much more information. It's a
power game now. Everybody's chasing velocity. It's pitch shape, it's
(08:17):
pitch design. It's not about making pitches. It's not about
controlling the running game. It's not about any of that.
It's just velocity, pitch shape, and pitch design and pitch
present percentages within a cold quadrant. And I think that
pitchers train differently now than they used to. I know,
you know, being around a lot of old school guys,
it was a lot of cardiocular a lot of distance
(08:39):
running bikes after games, and now it's just a different game.
And so I have urged a lot of people within
the industry to try to, you know, kind of reach
back into a time capsule and.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Get with some of the older pitchers that we're.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Throwing two hundred and twenty five, two hundred and fifty
innings sometimes three hundred innings a year, and we just
don't see that anymore.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
And as I've said before, we're paying more, we've.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Got more information, sports science, more everything, but we're getting
less production. It's certainly something that Major League Baseball is
going to have to dress in the future.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Okay, all right, so let me get your thoughts now
on I'm going to ask you about some other teams
and your thoughts on what they've done. I mentioned the
Minnesota Twins have started really making run on the Guardians,
and obviously our regular texter has been pretty excited about
the Guardian season. But of late they've struggled. They've lost
(09:32):
six in a row, and the Twins have gotten hot.
So what's your take on that American League Central race
right now? And the Royals are just off the pace
by the way, Well, the Royals.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Arguably have one of the best young groups of position
players in the game of baseball. What they did so
well this winter is go out and add Michael Walka
and ad Seth Lugo. They haven't really figured the bullpen
out yet. I know JJ Piccolo wanted to do that.
At the trade deadline, they addressed in some ways, but
not completely but for the long term Kansas City. Kansas
(10:05):
City is really set up nicely Minnesota. You know, you
look at the team on paper and it's not, you know,
the most star power team, but they play so well
together and whenever Byron Buxton is healthy and rolling, uh,
they're going to be a better team. Willie Cashtrow is
an all star that you move all over the diamond.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
He does really well.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Royce Lewis is one of the best young players in
the game. They've got a lot of production from veteran
Carlos Santana with his fifteen home runs this year, and
they've got a lockdown closer in Juleon Durant. I mean,
that's that's how they kind of do it. It's not,
you know, it's not the like star power names that
you would think of, but they just play well collectively.
And Rockaball Delly does a tremendous job with.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
That called Okay all right to the East that it
continues to be just the mono al mono battle between
the Orioles and the Yankees. Seems like they have been
swapping out first place or tied for the division lead
for the past three months and and don't look now
but the Red Sox are kind of creeping back into
with their five and a half back.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Well, i'll tell you what, people better beware of the
Red Sox because what I was saying earlier about you've
got a nice young team and former Longhorn David Hamilton
has just become the spark plug of that ball club.
I mean he stills bases, play solid defense, He's got
just enough power to be dangerous, and he's been a
true ad to that team. Rafella at shortstop and center
(11:25):
field has done a great job. Willie Ibar has done
a tremendous job offensively. But they collectively have possibly the
best young prospects in the game, all playing together in
Portland in Kyle Teel and Marcelo Meyer.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
And Roman Anthony.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
And if those guys, if they make an advanced decision
before September one to give these guys a crack at
the major league level to help them make that final push,
the Red Sox could really be dangerous. The Orioles have
really been scuffling. I think they've lost like fifteen of
twenty two, six.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
In a row.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
They're really it just feels like that they've got to
just get on a nice run to try to turn
things around. But something feels a little bit different about
the Yankees this year, where they've really, you know, struggled
to fight through the last couple of years. This feels
like a different kind of ball club. And Garrett Cole,
if he can get rolling nextra Quartees can be consistent.
(12:17):
This is a team offensively that is going to score runs,
They play sound events, and they've got a chance to
be the New York Yankees that everybody's expected the going
to be the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
All right, how about to the West and the Astros
and Mariners tied for first and the Rangers five and
a half back right now, even though they've had some
struggles and stumbles of late, but they're five and a
half back. But the Astros and Mariners again for the
past two to three weeks, seems to have been swapping
out the division lead.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
I just can't say enough about what the Houston Astros
have done.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I mean, this is in today's game, to.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Be able to go to seventh straight American League Championships,
win two World Championships, completely deplete your minor league system,
fall back as much as they did in May, and
just to still be hanging around.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
It's just incredible.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
It just speaks so much to Jim Crane and the
job that Dana Brown has done and how that core
group just continues to show up. I mean, where so
many teams struggle to show up year after year, the
Astros just seem to get it done. And you look
at the Texas Rangers and kind of the fog that
they've been in all year long.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
They've never really.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Been able to find that rhythm that they found last
season and winning a World championship.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
But it's not too late.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
They've got some injured players that are coming back soon,
and Seattle just has to to score more runs. They're
just they're gonna pitch every night, they're gonna play sound defense,
but they've really struggled all season long to score runs
and they've got to find a way to try to
impact that lineup somehow in the next six weeks.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
All right, So, speaking of fog, as were a moment
will go what the world's going on with the Atlanta Braids.
They've there now would be not in the postseason, and
if it started, it'd be out of the Wildcard race.
They've dropped five in a row. I know, there's injuries
just like draw with a lot of the other teams.
Is it just that or are there some other head
scratching things going on in Atlanta?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
No, I really think that's it, Craig.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Anytime you lose an Ozzie Albi's to injury, you know,
Ronaldo Lopez is hurt right now, you know, Spencer Strider.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Those are enormous losses to your club.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Your number one starter, your catalysts on your lineup, and
one of your best pitchers in the rotation.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
It's really really hard to overcome things like that.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Ronald mccuna has been out, Michael Harris has been out.
I mean, it just they've been strapped with injuries to
their most talented players, and it's really taking its soul
on the ball club.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Okay, and one other team. It's kind of been a
bit of a curiosity of late. They're back above the
five hundred mark. They're in the wildcard race, and that's
the Cardinals right now, and even the Pirates are still
on the fringe of that as they go into Los Angeles.
They got schemes on the mound this week, But what
about the Cardinals? And uh, you know, because I know
(15:04):
that's surprised from folks without. They've kind of flipped the
script a bit.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Well, you know, they kind of just always lay below
the radar. They kind of just just they know who
they are. They've got a great identity. They don't really
put themselves out there and and and you know, put
a lot of high expectations. But one of the bigger
acquisitions that they made over the deadline was Tommy Fam
And to bring Tommy Fam back into that clubhouse, we
(15:29):
traded him over there along with Eric Fetty to bring
him into that clubhouse. Just the competitive spirit that that
guy brings and the accountability he brings to the clubhouse
and the edge that he brings to that dugout.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
That was an enormous, enormous pickup.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
And if you remember the kid from Stanford a few
years ago that pitched against Texas Matthews one hundred fifty six.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Absolutely, yeah, he's throwing. He's absolutely throwing great in the
minor leagues.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
That's the guy that could be coming up in the
next few weeks and impact that pitching rotation. And they
just they do a great job of just knowing who
they are as an organization. They don't really you know,
put themselves out there with a lot of foolah and
they just go out and play cardinal baseball and once
again they're right in the mix.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Final thing. Here are the Mets for real?
Speaker 4 (16:15):
I think they are. I think I think that division
is just going to be so tough. The Phillies are
just so incredibly tough, and it's gonna be hard.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I think the Phillies are gonna come away with that
at the end. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Can the Mets be a wildcard?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Possibly?
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
They got to stay healthy and they there's not.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
A lot of help that's going to come from the system,
but they're going to have to play really good baseball
down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
All right.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
He's Gene Watson, joins us each week on the program. Hey,
I appreciate the time, you know, have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
You bet correct, Thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
All right, that's Steve Watson, who joins us dark Major
League Baseball on the program each week. All right, up next,
we'll hear from longwrn's head coach Steve Sarkejan when we
continue on sports Radio AM thirteen under the Zone in
the iHeartRadio Act.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.