October 20, 2025 • 17 mins
White Sox Director of Player Personnel Gene Watson joins the show to discuss the latest happenings in the MLB Playoffs, including Shohei Ohtani's unprecedented Game 4 performance, the rise of Trey Yesavage and the Blue Jays' pitching staff, and whether the Mariners' staff can bounce back in tonight's decisive Game 7 of the ALCS.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Big Randy McGill sets on the mount, here's the pitch,
and Old Tani tries.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
One left center field.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Dig you.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Show, hey, Old Tony the stuff of legend.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Back to the Craig Way Show.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Connect with Craig through the text line by text team
zones eight three zero followed by your message. Standard message
and data rates may apply. We're welcomed me back to
the show.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
It was an epic performance from show Atani and the
Dodgers NLCS clinching Game four win over the Milwaukee Brewers
on Friday night, five to one. Here to talk about that,
Here to recap the NLCS, Here to give us a
preview of the ALCS Game seven, and what's come on
down line, and a couple of other assorted baseball topics.
(01:03):
Our MLB insider from the Chicago White Sox front office,
Geene Watson.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Is on the line with us now.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Gino, I won't ask you if you've ever seen anything
like what Shoeo Tany did on Friday night, because quite frankly,
nobody's ever seen anything like that.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
The popular question.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Seems to be was it the greatest ever single game
performance not only in postseason history, but in overall baseball history,
where do'stand with that.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
One hundred percent?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
And I think you look at what Bob Gibson did
in nineteen sixty eight, striking out seventeen in the World
Series against the Tigers, and then kind of, you know,
in a lesser version, Reggie Jackson's three run home run
game for the New York Yankees. To come close to
doing that in one night on both sides of the
ball is absolutely unbelievable. I was with a lot of
(01:59):
guys that have been aroun on the game a very
very long time, a lot longer than me, over the weekend,
and to the man, everyone of them said, it's the
singular greatest performance ever in a playoff game.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Ever, you know, And I tried to think of some
other ones. Don Lawson's perfect game obviously in a different category.
It was incredible, no doubt about it. Nobody's ever thought
Roy Halliday threw a no hitter in a Division Series game.
That's certainly worthy as well. But to combine six shutout
innings with ten strikeouts, no walks, and three home runs,
(02:35):
and I think what it's only been done what seven
times in postseason history? Three home runs hit by one
person in the game. I think it's the combination, isn't
it that that has him as the unicorn standing alone?
You know that that that kind of thing. You know
that we heard Stephen Nelson's calling the Dodgers broadcast of
the stuff of legend. He also said on the first
(02:56):
time run, I think he said one of one. I
mean that that's a one of one type night, isn't.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
It one hundred percent?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
And I think, I mean, I don't know that we've
talked about another player more since twenty twenty one than
show Heos Tawny when my time with him in LA
and the thing that's just become remarkable. I'm on record
as saying, you know, last year we won't see the
same offensive output because of what it takes to.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Perform on the mound.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
And I mean, like you know, hitters, they hit, they
go play in the field, they come back.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
There's at least time for some mental you know.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
The rest to be able to go out on the
mound and have to focus and make pitches knowing one
mistake could be the ballgame. To do that and strike
out ten and then still go back to the dugout
and get your at bats and hit three home runs.
I mean, just the strength mentally that it takes to
be able not only to do that in game, but
(03:54):
to prepare for that. And that's what makes show as
so special. He's he's such a wonderful human being and
he he just he just he doesn't love anything in
the world as much as he loves baseball and his teammates.
And he is truly a one of a kind player.
And uh, hey, we're not done yet. Yeah we're not
(04:15):
We're not even closed to being done yet. So uh,
it's it's just it's remarkable what he's been able to do.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Well, I want to ask you very this is where
we really lean into your expertise on this stuff, because
a lot of folks may not fully get the weight
of preparation.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
And and and here's what I mean by this.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Because because I know some folks that say, well, yeah,
you know, it was is it was a good effort,
it was a great effort whatever, and the home runs
and all this other kind of stuff, without understanding the
time commitment that goes into this thing.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
So I wanted to give you a chance to explain
to people.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
What pitchers do on their off days, what what guys
who are going to pitch, have ups coming, and then
on the day of game, what pictures have to do
in their game preparation coupled with everything that a hitter has.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
To prepare for the time element that goes into it.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Well, I can speak more to show he schedule than anything, having.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Been with him and living like he is a machine.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
And the only other player I've ever heard who lived
a similar lifestyle was Alex Rodriguez and to some degree,
Derek Jeter. But you essentially, you know, you wake up,
you have your breakfast, you get a little bit of
downtime but not much, and then you go to the
ballpark and you're preparing. You know, you're doing your weights,
(05:41):
your bands, you're taking care of your diet. Show Hey
is a huge massage guy, so he's getting his massages going.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
But then you know, I've been in the meetings.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I've led the meetings where you're you're walking him through
you know the pictures and how they're going to attack
him and and and what to look for. And I
was very proud of an advanced report in twenty one
where they were facing two lefties and I'm like, show Hey,
look soft down, and he hit a bomb in the
first inning, and it was it was, you know, a
great feeling personally, but just to prepare not only for
(06:13):
how that starter's gonna get you, but when they bring
in the leverage guy in the middle, the leverage guy
in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, how they're going to attack.
To prepare for that, and then to have to go
into the meetings and to prepare for how you're going
to pitch to the hitters, and you know, thinking, Okay,
well I get out on the mountain, I don't feel great.
(06:35):
Worst case scenario, because every pitcher does that. If I've
got my stuff and it's great and they beat me, okay,
But if I go out, I don't feel good and
my stuff isn't working, and it's worst case scenario.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
What's the game plan going to be? Now?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
So to throw all that into one melting pot centered
around you know, your interviews, your time with your family,
your time with your teammates. It's just an incredible schedule
and I've seen it and it's it's a one of
a kind thing, and he is he is absolutely, I
mean think of think of you know, all the great
(07:09):
players that you've seen that have tried to do it.
Just in college, they can't do it then, and then
to be able to.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Take it to the major league level is truly incredible.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Gene Watson, our MLB inside are joining us here on
thirteen hundred.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Zon.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
There's one other element of all this that like your
insight on, and this was something that was said about,
you know, the slump that he was in in in
the Philadelphia series and then in throughout the course of
the four games against Milwaukee.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
In the first three games he did.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Have one RBI single, but he was really really struggling.
When the series shifted back to Los Angeles. There was
a lot that was made out of the fact that
he took VP on the field and not in the
hitting facility underneath.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
I heard months he say this.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
He said, I've never seen him take batting practice on
the field ever, And that's kind of amazing thing about
I've never seen him take it on the field.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
It always goes inside.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
And so he gets on the field and months he
said he really wasn't even very good at the start,
and then he started launching him and launching him and
launching him. And the word was, the rumble was that
he came back from Milwaukee an angry man because he
had not performed well at the play. He knew he
was going to be starting Game four on the mount,
(08:31):
but he had not performed well at the play. So
he goes to the field, takes batting practice, lights it up,
and then he lights it up from there. Had the
triple leading off in Game three, and then obviously the
three bombs in Game four. What I wanted to ask
you about is to explain to people, you know, what
can be the difference for a guy taking batting practice
(08:51):
on the field as opposed to in the most advance
of batting facilities. What the Dodgers said, it's so advanced
and so large. That's where they do their postgame celebrations.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
By the way, they don't even do it in the clubhouse.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
So, but how about the difference between taking BP on
the field as opposed to indoors and how it can
change for some guys.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Well, and I got to tell you, I mean show
hey never hits outside, So to me, uh, he was
just you know, maybe you going to Milwaukee, They've got
the roof open, roof closed, half open some of the time,
You've got a lot of wind coming in there. And
you know, he played a lot of baseball in Japan,
and a lot of the ballparks in Japan are like Milwaukee.
(09:36):
But there was something there that made him uncomfortable. And
I want to know, and I guarantee you somebody got
to him and said, let's change this up. Let's let's
let's do something a little bit different to make you uncomfortable,
to make you more comfortable, and and the idea to
get him out on the uh, out on the field.
But just you know, everything from you know, the temperature
(09:59):
in the stadium, to the win, to the music, to
the sound system in Dodger Stadium to just the wide
openness and of it. Something happened, something clicked for him.
But I can tell you having lived his routine for
a year, he never hits on the field. So for
him to do that, he had to feel pretty bad
and show A is one of the most prideful players
(10:23):
you could ever meet, and the one thing he never
wants to do is embarrass himself. And so I don't
think he was gonna let that happen for very long.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Interesting, Okay, we'll get to more of the Dodgers once
we know who their opponent is. Gene is going to
pop back on with us on Thursday. We're gonna we're
gonna preview the World Series. Let's jump to the ALCS.
What a wild series this has been, with Seattle taking
the first two in Toronto, and I thought that myself.
After that, I thought, wow, Gino was spot on on
(10:51):
this because he picked he picked the Mariners to win
this thing, and he won two in a row on
the road. Then Toronto comes back to take the next
two in Seattle. Seattle wins Game five at home, Toronto
wins Game six last night. Each team is one and
two on the run home field, and here we are
at the climactic Game seven. First of all, your thoughts
on the series overall between these two.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
I think it's been just a tremendous series. I can't
think of two teams that mirror each other more than
these two teams, other than obviously the Blue Jays, you know,
winning back to back World Series in ninety two and
ninety three. You know, this is the first Game seven
for Seattle in forty eight years. You know, Toronto they've
(11:33):
been in some game sevens. They've been in some very
difficult American League Championship series, including hours in twenty fifteen
that went six games. I've been very surprised for all
the talk of the strength of the Seattle Mariners starting pitching,
how much they've struggled. They've gotten like thirteen innings out
of four starts, and their Belcal starters have really struggled,
(11:58):
and so that that's been a bit prizing and it's
for me, it's a little bit concerning going into tonight's game.
I think when you think back to what it took
to win that fifteen inning game against the Tigers and
maybe the the tax that that that paid on that
rotation of those arms pitching out of the bullpen, and
(12:19):
they're gonna have to do it again tonight. I mean,
this is gonna be you know, it's not gonna be
It's gonna be Kirby, it's gonna be Castillo, it's gonna
be the Boys tonight. Ryan Wu's gonna have to play
a very very important part of it. And for me,
Toronto Shane Bieber, who they picked up at the trade deadline,
you know, for a second round pick from Toronto, has
been huge for them. And this is this is another
(12:39):
example of a team that made the push at the deadline,
gave up a lot of talent, and here he is
pitching the most important game of the season, and that
that's where a lot of teams fall short. They just
they will not push in uh to get the maximum
ceiling out of their roster in October and just think
it's or not made that deal where they'd be tonight.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
And so they've got Bieber.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Make no mistake, Max Schurzer cleats on and he's going
to be fighting to get into this game. And I
look for him to be the first arm out of
the bullpen, whether it's the fourth inning or the sixth.
This is going to be a chess match tonight between
the managers and it's going to be an amazing game.
(13:24):
And pay attention to the possible unsung unsung heroes. Dalton
Varshow has not swung the bat well and JP Crawford
has not swung the bat well for Seattle. So those
are two guys to pay attention to during the game
to be the guy that hasn't been around the whole
series but gets the big hit tonight to win the game.
But I think tonight is just going to be a
(13:46):
fascinating game and I can't wait for it.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
I want to ask you about one other guy, because
if if they said it right now, you know who
who might be the MVP of the series, or two
or three guys for Seattle.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
I think that that you could lean into.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
The guy for Toronto for me is Ernie Clement, because
he's come up with extra base hits, I think, in
all but one of the games and has been so huge.
And I don't know if unsung is the way to
describe him, because he's had a good year obviously, but
for him to be on fire like this in the
series and to carry it over from what he did
against the Yankees is pretty darn impressive.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Not a plus tool in the toolbox, A released minor
league player that just loves to play the game and
has a heart for the game and a heart for
his teammates, and it doesn't matter what he does and
for how long he does it. The naysayers just say, oh,
this won't last long, and he just keeps doing it,
and you know, I would compare it similarly to how
(14:49):
David Eckstein was viewed with the Angels back in the
early two thousands.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
This guy just loves to play.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
He knows what his limitations are, he knows where the
strengths are and he comes to play every day and
he's a testimony to young players out there to just
keep doing your thing and keep believing in yourself and
and the opportunities, make the most of your opportunities, and
good things are going to happen.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
And he has been huge for this ball club so far.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
One other guy want to ask you about and he
probably I'm just gonna say, probably probably won't factor into
the game tonight because he played pitch so well last night.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
Betray you savage. Uh is for a youngster.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
And and I think back to that Super Regional series
when Texas beat East Carolina but he won game one.
Uh he I could tell back then people were talking
about then how good that dude was.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
And uh and just and and.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Didn't you say started the season at single a ball
you savage?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And he he is the you know, he's that in
factor starter. He knows how good he is. He does
not vibrate and regardless of the moment. I mean, he
is a rock star in Toronto right now. And uh,
just a tremendous talent that you give him a game plan,
He's going.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
To go out and execute it with absolutely no fear.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
I compare it similarly to Josh Beckett in two thousand
and three with us just great stuff, throw strikes, solid
out pitch, no fear. I'm gonna throw it, you hit it,
I'm gonna throw it again, and just a tremendous story.
And it should they win this game, He's gonna be
very big for them in the World.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
Series, no doubt. All right.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
So, Gino, I know you've been from even before the
season ended. You were going with the Mariners, and you've
struck with the Manners already. Three there's one game left
to decide this deal. It is in Toronto, However, are
you sticking with the M's? Are you going with the
Jay's tonight?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
I just having the fifteen inning game against the Tigers
and how they manage that game and maneuver through it
with the arms that they had. I just cannot see
this rotation continue to struggle the way. It's just too good.
And so I'm gonna stick with my Mariners. Not a
ton of conviction to it, but I'm gonna stick with
(16:58):
them and believe in them for tonight, all right?
Speaker 5 (17:01):
I like that.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Coming up, Geno will join us on Thursday. We'll preview
the World series, because we'll know by then who and
where it will start. If the Jays win tonight, the
series will start in Toronto. If the Mariners win to night,
it'll start in Los Angeles. Gino, I appreciate the time.
Enjoy and we'll visit again on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Okay, guys, thanks so much.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
All right, that is Gene.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Watson from the Chicago White Sox are MLB insidery.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I'll give him credit.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
He stuck with the Mariners all the way through, picked
them before the regular season, and he said they're dangerous,
they can get on a roll, and their cable winning
the whole thing, certainly winning the American League, he said,
And he did flip a little, but he had been
going with the Phillies, but he liked the trend that
the Dodgers were doing coming out of the Division Series
or the Wildcard series. So we'll see and we'll get
(17:49):
his World Series preview on Thursday. All right, coming up
more from Coach Sark when we continue on thirteen Under
the Zone
Big Randy McGill sets on the mount, here's the pitch,
and Old Tani tries.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
One left center field.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Dig you.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Show, hey, Old Tony the stuff of legend.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Back to the Craig Way Show.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Connect with Craig through the text line by text team
zones eight three zero followed by your message. Standard message
and data rates may apply. We're welcomed me back to
the show.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
It was an epic performance from show Atani and the
Dodgers NLCS clinching Game four win over the Milwaukee Brewers
on Friday night, five to one. Here to talk about that,
Here to recap the NLCS, Here to give us a
preview of the ALCS Game seven, and what's come on
down line, and a couple of other assorted baseball topics.
(01:03):
Our MLB insider from the Chicago White Sox front office,
Geene Watson.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Is on the line with us now.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Gino, I won't ask you if you've ever seen anything
like what Shoeo Tany did on Friday night, because quite frankly,
nobody's ever seen anything like that.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
The popular question.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Seems to be was it the greatest ever single game
performance not only in postseason history, but in overall baseball history,
where do'stand with that.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
One hundred percent?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
And I think you look at what Bob Gibson did
in nineteen sixty eight, striking out seventeen in the World
Series against the Tigers, and then kind of, you know,
in a lesser version, Reggie Jackson's three run home run
game for the New York Yankees. To come close to
doing that in one night on both sides of the
ball is absolutely unbelievable. I was with a lot of
(01:59):
guys that have been aroun on the game a very
very long time, a lot longer than me, over the weekend,
and to the man, everyone of them said, it's the
singular greatest performance ever in a playoff game.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Ever, you know, And I tried to think of some
other ones. Don Lawson's perfect game obviously in a different category.
It was incredible, no doubt about it. Nobody's ever thought
Roy Halliday threw a no hitter in a Division Series game.
That's certainly worthy as well. But to combine six shutout
innings with ten strikeouts, no walks, and three home runs,
(02:35):
and I think what it's only been done what seven
times in postseason history? Three home runs hit by one
person in the game. I think it's the combination, isn't
it that that has him as the unicorn standing alone?
You know that that that kind of thing. You know
that we heard Stephen Nelson's calling the Dodgers broadcast of
the stuff of legend. He also said on the first
(02:56):
time run, I think he said one of one. I
mean that that's a one of one type night, isn't.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
It one hundred percent?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
And I think, I mean, I don't know that we've
talked about another player more since twenty twenty one than
show Heos Tawny when my time with him in LA
and the thing that's just become remarkable. I'm on record
as saying, you know, last year we won't see the
same offensive output because of what it takes to.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Perform on the mound.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
And I mean, like you know, hitters, they hit, they
go play in the field, they come back.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
There's at least time for some mental you know.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
The rest to be able to go out on the
mound and have to focus and make pitches knowing one
mistake could be the ballgame. To do that and strike
out ten and then still go back to the dugout
and get your at bats and hit three home runs.
I mean, just the strength mentally that it takes to
be able not only to do that in game, but
(03:54):
to prepare for that. And that's what makes show as
so special. He's he's such a wonderful human being and
he he just he just he doesn't love anything in
the world as much as he loves baseball and his teammates.
And he is truly a one of a kind player.
And uh, hey, we're not done yet. Yeah we're not
(04:15):
We're not even closed to being done yet. So uh,
it's it's just it's remarkable what he's been able to do.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Well, I want to ask you very this is where
we really lean into your expertise on this stuff, because
a lot of folks may not fully get the weight
of preparation.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
And and and here's what I mean by this.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Because because I know some folks that say, well, yeah,
you know, it was is it was a good effort,
it was a great effort whatever, and the home runs
and all this other kind of stuff, without understanding the
time commitment that goes into this thing.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
So I wanted to give you a chance to explain
to people.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
What pitchers do on their off days, what what guys
who are going to pitch, have ups coming, and then
on the day of game, what pictures have to do
in their game preparation coupled with everything that a hitter has.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
To prepare for the time element that goes into it.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Well, I can speak more to show he schedule than anything, having.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Been with him and living like he is a machine.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
And the only other player I've ever heard who lived
a similar lifestyle was Alex Rodriguez and to some degree,
Derek Jeter. But you essentially, you know, you wake up,
you have your breakfast, you get a little bit of
downtime but not much, and then you go to the
ballpark and you're preparing. You know, you're doing your weights,
(05:41):
your bands, you're taking care of your diet. Show Hey
is a huge massage guy, so he's getting his massages going.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
But then you know, I've been in the meetings.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I've led the meetings where you're you're walking him through
you know the pictures and how they're going to attack
him and and and what to look for. And I
was very proud of an advanced report in twenty one
where they were facing two lefties and I'm like, show Hey,
look soft down, and he hit a bomb in the
first inning, and it was it was, you know, a
great feeling personally, but just to prepare not only for
(06:13):
how that starter's gonna get you, but when they bring
in the leverage guy in the middle, the leverage guy
in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, how they're going to attack.
To prepare for that, and then to have to go
into the meetings and to prepare for how you're going
to pitch to the hitters, and you know, thinking, Okay,
well I get out on the mountain, I don't feel great.
(06:35):
Worst case scenario, because every pitcher does that. If I've
got my stuff and it's great and they beat me, okay,
But if I go out, I don't feel good and
my stuff isn't working, and it's worst case scenario.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
What's the game plan going to be? Now?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
So to throw all that into one melting pot centered
around you know, your interviews, your time with your family,
your time with your teammates. It's just an incredible schedule
and I've seen it and it's it's a one of
a kind thing, and he is he is absolutely, I
mean think of think of you know, all the great
(07:09):
players that you've seen that have tried to do it.
Just in college, they can't do it then, and then
to be able to.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Take it to the major league level is truly incredible.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Gene Watson, our MLB inside are joining us here on
thirteen hundred.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Zon.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
There's one other element of all this that like your
insight on, and this was something that was said about,
you know, the slump that he was in in in
the Philadelphia series and then in throughout the course of
the four games against Milwaukee.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
In the first three games he did.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Have one RBI single, but he was really really struggling.
When the series shifted back to Los Angeles. There was
a lot that was made out of the fact that
he took VP on the field and not in the
hitting facility underneath.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
I heard months he say this.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
He said, I've never seen him take batting practice on
the field ever, And that's kind of amazing thing about
I've never seen him take it on the field.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
It always goes inside.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
And so he gets on the field and months he
said he really wasn't even very good at the start,
and then he started launching him and launching him and
launching him. And the word was, the rumble was that
he came back from Milwaukee an angry man because he
had not performed well at the play. He knew he
was going to be starting Game four on the mount,
(08:31):
but he had not performed well at the play. So
he goes to the field, takes batting practice, lights it up,
and then he lights it up from there. Had the
triple leading off in Game three, and then obviously the
three bombs in Game four. What I wanted to ask
you about is to explain to people, you know, what
can be the difference for a guy taking batting practice
(08:51):
on the field as opposed to in the most advance
of batting facilities. What the Dodgers said, it's so advanced
and so large. That's where they do their postgame celebrations.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
By the way, they don't even do it in the clubhouse.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
So, but how about the difference between taking BP on
the field as opposed to indoors and how it can
change for some guys.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Well, and I got to tell you, I mean show
hey never hits outside, So to me, uh, he was
just you know, maybe you going to Milwaukee, They've got
the roof open, roof closed, half open some of the time,
You've got a lot of wind coming in there. And
you know, he played a lot of baseball in Japan,
and a lot of the ballparks in Japan are like Milwaukee.
(09:36):
But there was something there that made him uncomfortable. And
I want to know, and I guarantee you somebody got
to him and said, let's change this up. Let's let's
let's do something a little bit different to make you uncomfortable,
to make you more comfortable, and and the idea to
get him out on the uh, out on the field.
But just you know, everything from you know, the temperature
(09:59):
in the stadium, to the win, to the music, to
the sound system in Dodger Stadium to just the wide
openness and of it. Something happened, something clicked for him.
But I can tell you having lived his routine for
a year, he never hits on the field. So for
him to do that, he had to feel pretty bad
and show A is one of the most prideful players
(10:23):
you could ever meet, and the one thing he never
wants to do is embarrass himself. And so I don't
think he was gonna let that happen for very long.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Interesting, Okay, we'll get to more of the Dodgers once
we know who their opponent is. Gene is going to
pop back on with us on Thursday. We're gonna we're
gonna preview the World Series. Let's jump to the ALCS.
What a wild series this has been, with Seattle taking
the first two in Toronto, and I thought that myself.
After that, I thought, wow, Gino was spot on on
(10:51):
this because he picked he picked the Mariners to win
this thing, and he won two in a row on
the road. Then Toronto comes back to take the next
two in Seattle. Seattle wins Game five at home, Toronto
wins Game six last night. Each team is one and
two on the run home field, and here we are
at the climactic Game seven. First of all, your thoughts
on the series overall between these two.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
I think it's been just a tremendous series. I can't
think of two teams that mirror each other more than
these two teams, other than obviously the Blue Jays, you know,
winning back to back World Series in ninety two and
ninety three. You know, this is the first Game seven
for Seattle in forty eight years. You know, Toronto they've
(11:33):
been in some game sevens. They've been in some very
difficult American League Championship series, including hours in twenty fifteen
that went six games. I've been very surprised for all
the talk of the strength of the Seattle Mariners starting pitching,
how much they've struggled. They've gotten like thirteen innings out
of four starts, and their Belcal starters have really struggled,
(11:58):
and so that that's been a bit prizing and it's
for me, it's a little bit concerning going into tonight's game.
I think when you think back to what it took
to win that fifteen inning game against the Tigers and
maybe the the tax that that that paid on that
rotation of those arms pitching out of the bullpen, and
(12:19):
they're gonna have to do it again tonight. I mean,
this is gonna be you know, it's not gonna be
It's gonna be Kirby, it's gonna be Castillo, it's gonna
be the Boys tonight. Ryan Wu's gonna have to play
a very very important part of it. And for me,
Toronto Shane Bieber, who they picked up at the trade deadline,
you know, for a second round pick from Toronto, has
been huge for them. And this is this is another
(12:39):
example of a team that made the push at the deadline,
gave up a lot of talent, and here he is
pitching the most important game of the season, and that
that's where a lot of teams fall short. They just
they will not push in uh to get the maximum
ceiling out of their roster in October and just think
it's or not made that deal where they'd be tonight.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
And so they've got Bieber.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Make no mistake, Max Schurzer cleats on and he's going
to be fighting to get into this game. And I
look for him to be the first arm out of
the bullpen, whether it's the fourth inning or the sixth.
This is going to be a chess match tonight between
the managers and it's going to be an amazing game.
(13:24):
And pay attention to the possible unsung unsung heroes. Dalton
Varshow has not swung the bat well and JP Crawford
has not swung the bat well for Seattle. So those
are two guys to pay attention to during the game
to be the guy that hasn't been around the whole
series but gets the big hit tonight to win the game.
But I think tonight is just going to be a
(13:46):
fascinating game and I can't wait for it.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
I want to ask you about one other guy, because
if if they said it right now, you know who
who might be the MVP of the series, or two
or three guys for Seattle.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
I think that that you could lean into.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
The guy for Toronto for me is Ernie Clement, because
he's come up with extra base hits, I think, in
all but one of the games and has been so huge.
And I don't know if unsung is the way to
describe him, because he's had a good year obviously, but
for him to be on fire like this in the
series and to carry it over from what he did
against the Yankees is pretty darn impressive.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Not a plus tool in the toolbox, A released minor
league player that just loves to play the game and
has a heart for the game and a heart for
his teammates, and it doesn't matter what he does and
for how long he does it. The naysayers just say, oh,
this won't last long, and he just keeps doing it,
and you know, I would compare it similarly to how
(14:49):
David Eckstein was viewed with the Angels back in the
early two thousands.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
This guy just loves to play.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
He knows what his limitations are, he knows where the
strengths are and he comes to play every day and
he's a testimony to young players out there to just
keep doing your thing and keep believing in yourself and
and the opportunities, make the most of your opportunities, and
good things are going to happen.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
And he has been huge for this ball club so far.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
One other guy want to ask you about and he
probably I'm just gonna say, probably probably won't factor into
the game tonight because he played pitch so well last night.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
Betray you savage. Uh is for a youngster.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
And and I think back to that Super Regional series
when Texas beat East Carolina but he won game one.
Uh he I could tell back then people were talking
about then how good that dude was.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
And uh and just and and.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Didn't you say started the season at single a ball
you savage?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And he he is the you know, he's that in
factor starter. He knows how good he is. He does
not vibrate and regardless of the moment. I mean, he
is a rock star in Toronto right now. And uh,
just a tremendous talent that you give him a game plan,
He's going.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
To go out and execute it with absolutely no fear.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
I compare it similarly to Josh Beckett in two thousand
and three with us just great stuff, throw strikes, solid
out pitch, no fear. I'm gonna throw it, you hit it,
I'm gonna throw it again, and just a tremendous story.
And it should they win this game, He's gonna be
very big for them in the World.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
Series, no doubt. All right.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
So, Gino, I know you've been from even before the
season ended. You were going with the Mariners, and you've
struck with the Manners already. Three there's one game left
to decide this deal. It is in Toronto, However, are
you sticking with the M's? Are you going with the
Jay's tonight?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
I just having the fifteen inning game against the Tigers
and how they manage that game and maneuver through it
with the arms that they had. I just cannot see
this rotation continue to struggle the way. It's just too good.
And so I'm gonna stick with my Mariners. Not a
ton of conviction to it, but I'm gonna stick with
(16:58):
them and believe in them for tonight, all right?
Speaker 5 (17:01):
I like that.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Coming up, Geno will join us on Thursday. We'll preview
the World series, because we'll know by then who and
where it will start. If the Jays win tonight, the
series will start in Toronto. If the Mariners win to night,
it'll start in Los Angeles. Gino, I appreciate the time.
Enjoy and we'll visit again on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Okay, guys, thanks so much.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
All right, that is Gene.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Watson from the Chicago White Sox are MLB insidery.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I'll give him credit.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
He stuck with the Mariners all the way through, picked
them before the regular season, and he said they're dangerous,
they can get on a roll, and their cable winning
the whole thing, certainly winning the American League, he said,
And he did flip a little, but he had been
going with the Phillies, but he liked the trend that
the Dodgers were doing coming out of the Division Series
or the Wildcard series. So we'll see and we'll get
(17:49):
his World Series preview on Thursday. All right, coming up
more from Coach Sark when we continue on thirteen Under
the Zone
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