March 25, 2025 • 54 mins
Wayne and Matt discuss the NCAA Basketball Tournament and preview the upcoming Milwaukee Brewers season with Todd Rosiak, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's college basketball and Brewers beat reporter.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I thought Garret Mitchell would be an X factor for
the Brewers this season. Christian Yelich absolutely an X factor
for them this year. And if they can I think
if they can get one hundred and thirty games out
of both Mitchell and Yelich and you get that production
that you would kind of project with one hundred and
thirty games, I think they're going to be, you know,
assuming everybody else stays healthy and produces the way they're
(00:20):
expected to, I think they'll be right in the mix
again because it's a very winnable division.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
This is the Laravian la Pey Podcast, a production of
iHeartRadio Podcasts, with host Swayne Larvy, the voice of the
Green Bay Packers, and Matt Lapey, the voice of Wisconsin
Badgers football and men's basketball. The Larovian la Pey Podcast
is presented by you w Credit Union.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Here for every U, HI, everybody, I'm Wayne Larovy and
I'm Matt lape On this episode of the Laravie la
Pey Podcast. Major League Baseball season officially underway, with the
Dodgers and Cubs playing last week. In the rest of
the major start this week, in particular, the Milwaukee Brewers,
who take on the defending America League champion New York
(01:06):
Yankees in the Bronx. Our guest is Todd Roseiack of
the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. His beat is the Brewers, but
Todd also spends some time on college basketball. We'll talk
about that as well. Speaking of which, the basketball tournament
moves to the Sweet sixteen. Oh and for those of
you who didn't make the second week of the tournament,
the transfer portal is now open. Stay tuned. We've got
(01:29):
good stuff coming up on the layer of the Lapey Podcast.
Ready to give fees the stiff arm. UW Credit Union
can help because since nineteen thirty one they've been committed
to eliminating fees for members joined today at UWCU dot org,
ensured by NCUA terms and conditions apply. We welcome into
(01:50):
the lay of the Lapey Podcast Todd Rosiack, Milwaukee Brewers
beat reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. And Todd, you
also have done a lot of basketball over your career.
I know you have a great love for college basketball
and you have the opportunity to be at the feiser
for the NCAA started the NCAA Tournament to give us
your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
First of all, just a lot of fun. I was
telling Matt before you got on that it's kind of
like riding a bike. That was the first NCAA tournament
of any sort of covered since twenty eleven, my last
year doing Marquette, and it was it was really cool
to see a lot of familiar faces. Marquette always does
a great job hosting that event. You know, bumped into
(02:30):
Tom Crean among some other people, and just just really
cool atmosphere. As you guys know, being at the NCAA
tournaments and stuff, there's just something magical about it, and
people are so excited. And then having all the local
ties as well, different teams coming in. Iowa stayed heavy
heavy Milwaukee in Wisconsin connections. There was a kid from
(02:53):
Sheboygan Lutheran Sam Decker's old stomping grounds, who played for Lipscomb,
so that was pretty neat, you know, distant Milwaukee tie
with Illinois, uh, and just some really good games too,
So I was I was thinking. I covered Thursday and
Friday only and saw some good games that day. In
(03:14):
the last game of the day was Xavier losing to Illinois,
and I went back and listened to Sean Miller's press
conference after the fact that I thought, wow, this is yeah,
I know Sean Miller is I've seen him, you know,
many times, and you know, really put a good bow
on their season and really well spoken and oh, you know,
really looking forward to getting back to it next year
and up next day. Oh see you later on in
(03:36):
the Texas. So as you guys know, it's a crazy business,
and the coaching carousel starts up quickly, you know, the
transfer portal. Now guys are jumping in already and stuff.
So it's a it's it's a crazy game. It's much
different than the one that I left years ago. Yeah,
that's with with with Sean Leavin. That's the second time
obviously he's left Xavier. But even the you know, last
(03:57):
week Will Wade coaching McNee, everybody knew he was going
to n C State, which was awkward looking sounding.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
But with the portal opening Monday of this week, you've
got to You've got to do it. I mean, that's
just how this works. It's it's it's a it's an
unbelievably stupid Yeah, it's you can't you can't make this up.
The stupidity of it. The portal opened in the midst
of the tournament. But I get what NC State's doing.
(04:28):
If you got your guy, you've got to get your
guy because it's all fluid.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah yeah, And I was I was talking to Tom
Green about this at the tournament, and you know, Wayne,
you know you talked to bar too, Bart Lundy. Just
the insanity of the whole system and everything. I mean,
it is what it is now, and I understand it.
And you know, yeah, for the players because for so
long they've been kind of held down and you know,
tied to the coaches, and there was that penalty year
(04:55):
and he transferred and all that sort of stuff. But
for a guy like bar Lundy who's trying to buil
a really good mid major program. Three years at UWM,
three twenty win seasons, you know, they basically become the
Milwaukee Brewers. Those programs become the Milwaukee Brewers of college basketball.
They develop guys like Jamichael Stillwell Denas Folks says, a
(05:15):
really good year this year, and what happens, you know,
they're gone. You know, at the end of the year,
they're going to the next big thing for a lot
of money. You know, Jamichael Stillwell is going to get
well more money for one year playing wherever he plays
at next then UWM has for its entire program nil.
And again you can't blame the kids, but it's just
(05:36):
it's a messed up system where you know, every year
teams and coaches have to be so aware of that
and cognizant of that, and you have to sometimes turn
down these postseason tournament invites because you're worried about a
having enough players to feel the team if you're going
to play in it. And B, like you said, the
transfer portals open so early. Now you got to get
(05:58):
on the on the ball and started recruiting your team
for next year. So something's got to change because this
is too wild West. I think, you know, guys, and
Matt I would ask you this too. Bart Lundy was
on with our friend Tim van Voord and the sports
director Fox six. This is about a week and a
half ago. It was a Sunday night show. The NCAA
(06:20):
tournament brackets have been announced and all that, and they
had bart Lundy on and you know, he mentioned this,
and I thought the most salient point he made was
he said, you know, I spent my career building programs
and he did He's been very highly successful Queen's College
in Charlotte, North Carolina, and elsewhere as well, and at Milwaukee.
He says, now, based on this system, I have to
(06:43):
build rosters. And Matt, are you also seeing that on
the bigger level. I mean, Marquette and Purdue are basically
dinosaurs in this day and age because they have been
able to do it without getting into the transfer portal,
hook line and sinker.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
And but they're the real exception. Everyone else seems to
be doing exactly what bart Lundy said, and that is
you got to build a roster. Hell with a program,
build a roster. And and you know, even you know,
several coaches have said, why are we Why are we
recruiting freshmen when they're not going to stay with us.
They're not going to be with us very long unless
(07:23):
it's a one and done guy. Then there's no really
upside of recruiting freshmen. And that's really to me. I
don't get where where this is going or how this
is going to be sustainable. But Matt, are you seeing
that on the major level also, that hey, it's about
building a roster, not a program. Absolutely, Yeah, there's no question.
(07:43):
Now at a place like Wisconsin. And you know, to
Todd's point about how the Panthers, how you view the Panthers,
I look at the Badger's much the same way as
the Brewers of the Big Ten, because you're not going
to go dollar for dollar.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
With Michigan Indiana. The money that they're going to have
through there, through the collectives down there. And you know
what this revenue share will be that you know, each
school makes its own decision as to how much what
percentage of the revenue share will go to each sport.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
It's going to be.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Football heavy, buy and large for everyone. But yeah, I
think you look at Wisconsin this time last year, Chuckie Hepburn,
who had actually started some spring workouts at Wisconsin, but
he could make more money in Louisville. A J. Storre
could make a lot more money going to Kansas. Connor resigion.
This playing time was shoppy at best at Wisconsin, so
he found a better opportunity for him at Nebraska. But
(08:37):
I think it's a it's maybe a little lesser extent
with the Badgers than with the Panthers, because what they
still want to have these core guys. You know, with
this past season, you had Stephen Krow and Carter Gilmore
and even Kamari McGee and Max Klesband who transferred from
other programs there, Wisconsin gotts. They're from the state three
years here, so they're able to culture is a word
(09:01):
that's use so much. But they know what is expected.
They know what you're supposed to do, and you pass
that on to to the new faces, be they freshman
or transfers. And I think, you know, if fingers crossed,
all indications are guys like Nolan Winter and John Blackwell
will be back at Wisconsin next year for their junior seasons.
(09:22):
Those are the kind of guys you build your culture around.
In addition to this to their talent. But it's different,
and it's you hope at some point that there can
be I'm all for players getting paid, I mean, for
too long they weren't, but there has to be some
type of a structure. And it just seems to me,
I'm not a really smart guy, but like leagues or
(09:45):
entities that actually know what they're doing, the free agencieson
begins after the season is over, not in the midst
of the postseason, like we're saying. We see it. With football,
we had a Penn State quarterback who wasn't the starter,
but he played in every game, but he the announced
he was transferring in the midst of the college football playoffs.
Scottie Pippens's son at Michigan is in the port Michigan
(10:08):
is still playing in the Sweet sixteen. That's just you know,
if it's there to I don't blame the player, but
the system is beyond ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah. I thought JJ Watt had a great tweet yesterday
if you saw that, basically saying this is the This
is akin to having free agency kicking off during Super
Bowl Week? Yeah, is it? I mean it takes away
from the greatness that is the NCAA tournament is all
of now, all these questions what, you know, what should
be directed about. Hey, you know, you guys were Wolverines.
(10:40):
You guys are in the sweet sixteen? How cool is this?
And everybody's asking them why is you know, justin where
are you going to? Where are you going to school?
And you know, asking Dusty May, what do you think
about the transfer portal and all? It takes away from
it so much it's it's really unfortunate. But again that's
that's the way this game has gone and it's it's
really it's it's gone from you know, the quote unquote
(11:01):
student athlete to just what like JJ said in his tweet, too,
let's just call it what it is. That's professional sports now.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Yeah, oh so we should probably get the an I spoil.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, you're right, go ahead, way, yeah, I would think
so about the one well, I ask question. I want
to ask both of you guys. As I looked at
the tournament and uh, you watch the games and all that,
I think what we're missing with these teams that are
put together year to year is that you don't have,
especially when it comes to tournament time, a real baseline
(11:34):
for who these teams are and how will they perform,
and you see a lot of inconsistency. Like you know,
I told you guys in Matt, you and I talked
about this. I thought Illinois was a great like sixty
that could go to the Sweet sixteen, probably the Elite eight.
They had that kind of talent and ability. But they
were a team that was just put together a few
months ago, you know, six seven, eight months ago, whatever
(11:54):
it was. And you know a lot of teams in
the tournament are like that. So you look at the
talent and say, well, this team should go long way,
and yet the inconsistency. They look like gangbusters one night
and they get beat the next night. You know, is
it hard to get because none of these players have
grown up in the system together, So there's not a
(12:16):
real when the chips are down and it's not cutting
time late in the ballgame in the NCAA tournament, you
don't know how these kids are going to react together
in a team sport. That to me struck me during
this tournament. I don't know if it hit you guys
like that or not. Well.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I think in some cases when you're exactly right now.
Illinois had injuries, they had an illness, They had a
bug that ripped through that team for multiple weeks and
that put them off track. But I thought it seemed
like they were getting healthy at the right time to
make a run. But you have Arkansas round floor. You know,
they know John cal Perry had to go find gods
(12:51):
to build a roster of Michigan. Dusty met a pretty
significant turnover there. Danny wolf Vlad Golden Golden comes up
with him to ann Arbor. They you know, Danny Wolfe
terrific player, Roddy Gale comes in from Ohio state. Some
of these programs, the talent is there and they start
to mesh by February and when you're seeing that with
(13:14):
some of these programs right now too, so being the
Arkansas story is pretty vivid right now. Kentucky as well.
So some never do like Indiana. You know, there was
up and down all year with the big money that
they had for NIL, but with the other with some
of these other programs, particularly those who are still playing
that are still playing, it could be a lot of
(13:35):
new faces, but they're discombobulated in November, December and maybe
even into January. But it all starts to come together
when you get to the final third of the regular
season and then end of the postseason, and you're seeing
that with some of these teams in the sweet sixteen.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Yeah, Wayne, I'll jump in and just talking about UWM specifically.
You know, it's obviously it's a program that you know
and that you see on a regular basis. You know,
you probably would agree that every year, having to turn
over that roster like that, sometimes you have to roll
the dice on guys you don't necessarily no personalities. Chemistry
I think was a big issue for UWM all three years.
(14:13):
You know, we saw guys suspended, We saw guys who
just didn't mesh in the group. And I think that's
why you look at a roster and you see, Okay,
there's a lot of physical talent here. And at the
high major level, you know, Matt, like you were talking
about like a Michigan, I mean, you've got major major
players there, talent can sometimes overcome a lot of that.
At the mid major level with WM specifically, you know,
(14:38):
those problems I think rear their heads a little bit
more and you don't have that wiggle room as far
as talent goes. And then you get being consistencies. You
go on these runs as a team where you know,
you struggle and guys get suspended and whatever. And I
think that's that's part of the reason why a UWM
that was picked to win the Eisen League this year,
(15:01):
when you're just looking at the physical talent, ultimately did
not do that and bout out in their first Horizon
League game. It's just that it's such a crapshoot. You
don't have enough time to learn who these guys are.
You're not recruiting them over you know, a period of
a year or more like you used to do with
high school kids. Now it's just like, hey, can you
play a spot? You know you're six', eight do you
(15:22):
have a? Pulse let's, go let's see what you can.
Do that's literally how it, is and that usually doesn't
work out too well in the, end so somebody's got
to figure it.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
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Speaker 3 (15:44):
Ncua, Well, todd we have you here for baseball and all,
right college basketball talk IS i know you do BECAUSE
i know college basketball is something dear to your, heart
AS i mentioned. Earlier but The Milwaukee, brewers what kind
of a spring has it? BEEN i know they've had
some injuries and some set banks in that, regard but
would he expect going into this week's start of the regular.
(16:04):
Season so it's a good, Question. Wayne you, know a
lot kind of, transpired and in spring, TRAINING i would
say one of the bigger Story lions was was dipping
into the pocketbook and going out and Signing Jose. QUINTANA
i was wondering at the start of spring training how
long he would be out. There you, know there were
a number of players that good players available that still
(16:25):
had not been, signed and that wound up being a
really good move with all the all the injuries that
they had throughout the course of. Camp so to add
a guy who a always kicked their butts previously with
all the other stops he'd made in the major leagues
and in the division to their rotation now is real.
Big he's not going to be ready right at the
(16:46):
start of the season. Here they're going to have to
figure out something at least for the first time through
before he's able to join the. Rotation but just to
add another, veteran a left hander who can do the
things that he does was really. Big and you, know
the rest of the, camp to me was was really
a couple of. Things it was who's going to play?
(17:06):
Shortstop and ultimately the way it turned out was it
Was Joey. Ortiz so one from we Think Joey ortiz
is going to play short stop to a couple of
days of, like, hey Maybe Bryce terrang is going to do.
It to All Bryce terrang's shoulders hurt, now so let's
Put Joey RTI's back over. There he's going to be
our short stop, Ultimately so we'll see him there At
Yankee stadium On thursday when The brewers open. Up and
(17:29):
and just you, know some of the young, guys The Caleb,
durbans one of those guys that came over in the
in The Devin williams, trade you, Know South, Freelich, Jackson,
curio the kind of the young core of the. Team you,
know how did they do in spring? Training how how they?
Developed did they kind of short up some of the
holes in their? Games and really all those guys had,
(17:50):
good good. CAMPS i would say overall injuries aside going
into going into the start of the regular, season they're
pretty well. Positioned that, said there's not a lot of.
Depth you, know if they keep having any injury, problems you,
know then things might get a little bit. Dicey but
as of right, now it's a pretty it's A i would,
say a pretty solid twenty six with the. Mike with
(18:15):
most teams twenty four to twenty five twenty six spots
on the roster probably going to be a little bit
fluid to.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
START i ALWAYS i look at this team from FROM
a from afar. Now BUT i have the paranoia the
second time around for guys Like terrang Or. Tease If
Gary mitchell can stay. Healthy, Obviously Jackson, surio there's, that you,
know the so called sophomore, slump whatever you want to call.
It but AM i AM i too optimistic to think
(18:43):
That churio is the least likely to have to deal
with that because just his, approach how he takes every at,
bat that a guy like him is unlikely to regress
the way maybe some people might think that he would
be vulnerable are.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Regressing, YEAH i think obviously the, book you, know the
book is kind of out on him, now and teams
are going to have a specific way of attacking. HIM
i think he showed a tremendous maturity last. Year it
was really. Surprising you, know we've seen a time and
time again where these vaunted prospects come up and you,
know everybody thinks they're going to tear tear up the,
(19:21):
league and after about you, know a month or six
weeks or, something all of a, sudden those weaknesses start,
showing and teams just are relentless attacking those and before,
long the guy who's lost confidence the franchise has lost,
confidence they send them down and they either come back
and never have that, confidence or you have to go
(19:42):
down and just make these major. Adjustments to The brewers,
credits they Kept jackson sure you in the majors last
year when he really started struggling kind of the end Of,
april and let him just kind of watch and talk
to veterans and kind of work his work his issues
out at the major league. Level and To Jackson curio's,
(20:02):
credit he never lost. Confidence he just kept his mouth,
quiet mouth, shut kept, quiet learned from the veterans around,
him did the, work and as we saw from basically
once the calendar turned over To june to the rest
of the, season he was just. Incredible and toward the
end of the, SEASON i don't think anybody would argue
(20:23):
he was The brewer's best player twenty years. Old in the,
playoffs he was The brewer's best, player no question about.
It so he's coming off a tremendous. Spring the guy
hit almost five hundred with a nice amount of at bats,
too so it was, not you, know kind of a fluky.
Thing he was hitting the ball. HARD i think there's
room for a really big amount of growth For Jackson
(20:46):
curio in year. Two and you, know just based on
What i've, seen What i've heard people That i've talked,
to you, know this talk that, hey This Jackson curio
could be a POTENTIAL mvp candidate in a few. YEARS
i think it's. REAL i think he's that.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Good you, know let me ask you a little bit,
about you, know how this team will get it. Done last,
year this team was very aggressive, offensively not so much
from the home run, ball but they would put people in,
motion they were stealing, bases they were doing a lot
of that type of stuff manufacturing. Runs and, defensively they
were one of the best defensive teams in all of.
(21:21):
Baseball that made their pitching staff even. Better is this
team's Model is this team's m a going to be
about the? Same?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
YEAH i think you're going to see basically the same,
thing if not even more aggressiveness on the base pass as.
Well and it was really kind of jarring to. See
we didn't know What Pat murphy was going to, do
but we didn't really know his coaching, style his managing
style until the game. Started and you, know what are
we used to in baseball these? Days the home run.
(21:51):
Ball it's incredibly. BORING i get. It the numbers tell,
you you, know don't give up, outs don't bunt the,
ball swing for the. Fences three year on home is
always going to be more. VALUABLE i get. That but
what's lost in that is the beauty of baseball itself
and the fun of the. Game us old guys growing
up and, watching you, know hitting behind, runners stealing, bases
(22:13):
dropping the bunt, down getting guys over to, second getting
guys over to. Third it's a lost art and that's
the Way Pat murphy chose to, play and it really
benefited them in the long. Run you, know guys Like
Bryce terang perfectly suited to that type of, thing and
he stole fifty bases last year in addition to being
named the top overall defender in The National. LEAGUE i
(22:36):
don't think anybody could have first saw that. Coming you,
Know South freelik had some struggles, offensively but still fits
that that kind of that mo offensively of just getting on,
base stealing, bases being a. Pest he won A Gold
glove and right. Field another one of these young, Guys
Garret Mitchell matt you mentioned him. EARLIER i think he's
(22:57):
really going to be AN x factor for the team this.
Year he's got power, potential but he's also another one
of these fast guys who can wreak havoc on the.
Bases he can drop down a, Bunt SO i think
that recipe is going to be exactly the. SAME i,
think you, know just trying to get on, base trying
to rattle, pitchers trying to rattle. Defenses and that's the big,
(23:17):
thing right when you get on, base you want to
rattle these. Guys you want to make them think about
you over first, base and all of a, sudden you,
know your your focus shifts from what you're trying to
do to the batter to dealing with this guy over
at first. Base he turned back to home and you,
know you throw a, meatball and all of a, sudden
it's a two or three run, homer and the game has.
Changed so you, know they they did not go out
(23:39):
and add anything of note in the in the offseason
as far as free agency. Goes you, KNOW i didn't
even mention To. Christianelich yet there's another HUGE x factor for.
Them thirty three years. Old he's looked really good in
spring training so. Far can his back hold up over
the entirety of the, season we'll, see BUT i think
you're going to see pretty much the same style of
(23:59):
base ball and the same you, know kind of the same,
approach both offensively and, defensively and it worked out well
from last. YEAR i don't see your reason why wouldn't
this year if you've got that progression in your players coming.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Back i'm so glad you were talking about that the
style of, play because IF i say, It i'm the old,
guy you, know back in the. Day but there's nothing
wrong with going first to. Third there's nothing wrong with
turning a blop single into a double and rather than
the three, hour forty minute game where my team hits
two solo shots and your team hits one and it's you,
(24:31):
know two to one is your final. Score you Mentioned, yelich,
though what is do you think do they? MEASURE i,
mean this is a big, picture crystal ball kind of.
Thing if they get one hundred and twenty games out
of him or you, know one, thirty or do they
think he's a wired and wire, guy or how do
they how do you view how they would approach using,
(24:53):
him getting him in the lineup throughout.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
The course of the, SEASON i, think, like you, know
best case, scenario if you can get you, know one
thirty plus out of, HIM i think you're doing tremendously.
Well they obviously were very cautious at the start of spring,
training as they should have, been easing him, in letting
him kind of dictate the pace because you just don't.
(25:15):
Know anybody who's had back, PROBLEMS i think would. Agree
you just don't know until you're out there in the
moment and you know how that back is going to.
React and you're talking about a sport that is just
it's all about rotational, movement, right and just the violence
of those. Swings you've got to make darn sure that
you're one hundred percent healed and in a good spot
(25:36):
with all your rehab and your chorus strong before you
can really kind of let. Loose and he passed all
those tests in spring training, early and you, know Knock
On wood made it through with flying. COLORS i think
what you'll see early in the season is a good
mix of him starting AT, dh working him into the
(25:57):
field more left. Field even though they Lost Lake perkins
the injury for a, while they've got pretty good depth out,
there and by Dhing yelich at the. Start that way
you're able to Get Jackson, Cheerio Garrett, mitchell Salth freelich
in the outfield on a regular, basis and Once yelich
kind of gives them the go ahead that, Hey i'm,
(26:18):
good start working in and in left, field and then
you can start working on these combinations that you have. Too,
so AS i, SAID i Thought Garrett mitchell would be
AN x factor for The brewers this. Season Christian yelich
absolutely AN x factor for them this. Year and IF
i think if they can get one hundred and thirty
games out of Both mitchell And yelich and you get
(26:39):
that production that you would kind of project with one
hundred and thirty, GAMES i think they're going to be you,
know assuming everybody else stays healthy and produces the way
they're expected, TO i think they'll be right in the
mix again because it's a very winnable. Division you.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Know let me ask you about the on the pitching.
Staff Brandon. Woodruff we saw that he got an inning
or so in the spring training and it looked like
he's in a position where he might be able to
come on later as the season goes along and help
out what's your impression to. That what are they thinking for?
Him is is it Late april Early? May when do
you expect to see him on the roster and. Pitching,
(27:14):
yeah they've been very Very why it's about timetables with,
him he has as, well BECAUSE i just don't think
they really knew at that time when we first started
asking the. Questions but hats off to. Him what a
tremendous story to go through what he did and basically
just had his shoulder completely, rebuilt and to go from
(27:38):
an entire season of just rehabbing and strengthening and checking
all those, boxes jumping over all those, hurdles to coming
into camp and you, know taking those baby steps of
like you, know throwing an inning of live batting practice
and then two. INNINGS i think, that you, know human
nature is to try to skip steps and, HEY i feel,
(27:58):
great let's you, know let's let's do. More let's do.
More they resisted that. Urge they stuck to the, program
And Brandon, woodruff by all, accounts is in a tremendous
spot right. Now you, know as you, mentioned through an
inning in A Cactus league, game you know they're gonna
they're gonna keep working. Him you, know he's gonna eventually
(28:19):
get to a rehab assignment in the minor.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Leagues his velocity has started to come. BACK i THINK
i saw that he was he was throwing ninety. Five you,
know this is a guy that was regularly dialing up ninety,
eight ninety. Nine who knows if that's ever going to
be in the tank for him moving. Forward he was,
very very adamant telling us in spring training multiple, times,
guys don't judge me on my first, Half judge me
(28:44):
on my second. Half that's when He that's when you'll
see the Old Brandon, WOODRUFF i, think AND i think
that's totally. Right but just just to get him back
to this point into the, CONVERSATION uh is a tremendous
thing for him and the franchise because what a quality,
guy what a quality. Individual just just a credit to
The brewers in the game of. Baseball As Brandon woodruff
(29:06):
so way in the kind of roundabout answer your, QUESTION
i think Late april is absolutely within. Play it seems,
like you, know maybe early may at the absolute, latest
but just to know you kind of have that in.
Reserve what a great feeling for The, brewers you, know
AS i had mentioned, earlier there's a lot of a
lot of injury problems with their pitching right. Now to
(29:28):
be able to add him in and you, know get
that experience into the, mix it's always a good. Thing
so hats off To Brandon. Woodriff what a job and
you know what a guy he. Is what addition he's
going to be once he's able to start pitching in.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
Games, yeah he's one of the easiest guys to root,
For isn't it just that was really really good. Dude the,
bullpen it seems Like todd they always figure it. Out
there could be guys at the casual fangor who you,
know there's gonna be a new closure. Obviously Devid williams go,
on how do you feel about? That, hell how do
you think they feel about where they're bullpen since right?
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Now, yeah that's that's the one area like this is
going back even to The Doug melvin, days where you
know they've never spent. Heavily, guy there's so much year
to year variance with guys in the bullpen that you
you really don't want to spend, heavily and that that's
part of the part of the reason why they Let
Devin williams, Go let's be, honest it was mostly. Money
but it's a SPOT i think where they feel very
(30:25):
comfortable to what they. HAVE i like the fact that
they've got a lot of versatility and a lot of they.
Give they have pitchers who throw different styles and get
hitters different. LOOKS i think that's the most important thing
in a. Bullpen, obviously you've got to be able to
throw the ball over the. Plate that's number. One but you,
know you've got guys that are really hard throwers Like trevor,
(30:46):
McGill who's going to be the closer this year. Again,
Uh Nick. Mears you, know you've got left handers Like
Jared kanig And Brian. Hudson you've got control, Artists you've
got long, Guys you've got soft. Tossers i'm including in
that group the four or five six guys who are
going to kind of bounce back Between nashville And milwaukee
(31:09):
like they always. Do so you've got a group of you,
know probably you know twelve to, fourteen fifteen arms that
you're going to cycle through over the course of the,
season who all do different, things all bring different things
to the, table and buy and large are coming off
with good springs and have pretty good track records either
(31:29):
With milwaukee or where they were. Previously so that's the
one thing that The brewers have always done. Well credit
to their front office and their analytics. People they have
a specific recipe in what they like and what they
prefer to have in terms of. Relievers they've done it.
Well and time will, tell BUT i think it seems
(31:50):
like it will at the very least will not be
a weakness of This brewers. Team let's just say that
it should be another strength for The brewers this.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
Year do want to as we look at beyond The
brewers and we're talking To Todd rosiac beat Writer Milwaukee
Journal sentinel and The Milwaukee brewers the division and that's
what it comes down. To The brewers have won back
to back division. CHAMPIONSHIPS i don't know if casual fans
really realize, That but how do you see this division this?
(32:20):
Year because a lot of people are talking about The
cubs may be ready to fire and and maybe they you,
know The Pittsburgh pirates have one of the best young.
Rotations as you pointed out in your. Articles Terry francona
is now the manager of The. Reds he's an exceptional
managers we've seen over the. Years what do you see
in the division in where The brewers sit in this
division going IN a couple of things to jump out to.
(32:42):
Me number, one AS i mentioned, BEFORE i just think
it's eminently. WINNABLE i don't think anybody went out and
won the off. SEASON i think if The cubs have
Kept Cody ballinger after they had made That Kyle tucker,
trade unquestionably they would be the. Favorites but that's what's
kind of head, scratching As you've got this this monster
down At Wrigley field that can literally print, money yet
(33:04):
they're playing almost like mid major style front office.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Moves you. Know it's just it's very, weird And i'm
wondering If Craig council is kind of having buyers remorse
a little bit moving down there because of. That SO
i think The cubs will be in the mix for,
sure that they made some good moves toward the end
of the off season bolstering the pitching, staff and AS i,
Said Kyle, Tucker i'm sure he'll, be you, know in
(33:29):
the mix among you, know the best players in The
National league this. Year. Uh one of the one of
the big storylines for me personally and anybody who's kind
of followed baseball in The Central division in, particular is
the step back that The cardinals are willingly. Taking it seems,
like you, know and you hear all the baseball people
say never underestimate The, cardinals and and you, KNOW i
(33:50):
do feel like that that's true to a certain. Extent
but you know that they've willingly kind of gone into
teardown mode and they've recognized the weakness in that, franchise
which is developing players young, players and that's what they're
going back to. Now so IT'S i think it's going
to be weird Watching Nolan aaronatto there kind of knowing
that they tried to trade him and he said, no you,
(34:13):
know so he's back kind OF i don't want to
say persona non, grada but you just kind of feel
like if they get off to a bad, start that
you know they're going to revisit that trade for, him
try to move him somewhere that he would be happy going.
To so that that's a team that you know is
probably going to finish in the in the bottom half
of the. DIVISION i would think The pirates you, know
(34:35):
they never want to spend. Money it's it's. Incredible you've
got this this once in a lifetime pitching staff here
coming together With Paul, Skeins Jared jones looks like he's
going to be an absolute, Monster Mitch, Keller they've got
a lot of other young arms coming through the, system
and yet they refuse to spend money to bolster that
with any sort of a of a of a you,
(34:56):
know threat of an offensive. Attack it's really it's really.
Incredible so that's that's kind of a weird. Team and
then The Cincinnati, reds to, me they're they're kind of
the the wildcard or the dark horse if you want
to stay in the division this. Year AND i attribute
that mostly to the addition To Terry, francona a guy
who's just been a proven winner wherever he's. Been you,
(35:18):
know The reds of actually have probably, arguably from top to,
bottom the best rotation in the in the. Division they
might not have the pure talent that The pirates, do
but you, know they've got some really good arms, too
And elie de La cruz some really talented young offensive players.
Too SO i Think terry Frank cone is kind of that,
right that veteran guy that can kind of guide him
(35:40):
in the right, direction get them doing the right, things
Whereas David bell was not able to do. That If
Frank ConA can kind of push all those right managerial,
buttons to, me The reds are the team to. Beat
but you never. Know you, know there's, injuries of, course
there's variance in, play and you, know we can ever
underestimate The brewers either as men one of the last
(36:01):
two divisions and last year at this, time nobody was
talking about The brewers as being as being a team
that was going to be in the, mix and look
at what. Happened they won by ten, games running away with.
It so it's it should be. Fun it's definitely the
most competitive division in. Baseball people would argue also the
worst division in. BASEBALL i could see that as. Well
(36:22):
but if you're A brewer, FAN i think you should
go into the season feeling encouraged that even though your
team did not make, many if any offseason, moves any sexy,
MOVES i think if you stay, healthy you're going to
be right in the.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
Mix you had a great piece here recently On Matt
arnold and just giving readers a taste of his, path
which is, incredible you, KNOW i, mean you really have
to love the game to have the path That Matt
arnold has gone on in his years With Tampa. Bay
when they're in a division with The yankees and The Red,
(36:57):
sox he's always been unching away. Class how much of
that has helped him be as successful as he's been
in his time In. MILWAUKEE i, mean it's it's it's pretty.
Remarkable you look at the landscape of Major League, baseball
it's like college, athletics ye cap all, that but they're
always in the. Mix that That Tampa bay experience more than,
(37:20):
anything you think help him, Now, yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
That's a that's a great, question and one hundred percent.
AGREE i had a really, long kind of sit down
interview with him for that, story and that was one
of the one of the messages that really came, across
and that was one of the QUESTIONS i, asked was
your you, know the the experience at those prior, stops
how does that prepare you for what you're going through
now With, milwaukee where you know you're never going to
(37:44):
have the, resources you're never going to be in the you,
know in the running for these big time, players and
he absolutely brought that. Up and you look at the
names that he was associated with in that front office
In Tampa. BAY i mean that was a literal who's
who in baseball, now The Andrew friedman's and the Kaim,
blooms and you, know you can go on and. On
(38:05):
there's really five or six that are now either running
organizations or have run organizations in the, past and they
all really kind of cherished that underdog. Mentality and they
knew every year going into the season in The Al,
east that you've got to unseat The, yankees you've got
to unseat The Red. Sox you, know The orioles were
(38:26):
starting to come into Play Tampa. Toronto you never really
kind of knew year from year what they were going to.
Do but they always have resources to be, competitive and
it's one of those things that you have, TO i,
think kind of embrace and they never ran from. It
and you, Know Matt arold is his. Background he kind
of just has that grinder mentality. Anyway you, know if
(38:47):
you read the story just to you, know driving two
hours one way every day back and forth The Dodger
stadium and traffic and you, know getting that job with
The Texas, rangers and you, know living in a little
efficiency apartment and eating hot dogs and tortillas and just
working crazy. Hours it's and it's what all of us
have to do to excel in our. Professions, Right you
(39:09):
got to pay your. Dues AND i think that that's
a big part Of Matt arnold's. Story so now that
he's being asked to keep this franchise at a, really
let's be, honest kind of a ridiculously high level without
any of the resources that any of these other teams
have that have kind of been in that mix in
(39:30):
the last seven eight years of you, know constant playoffs
into the talk of winning the division or winning. Divisions you,
know The brewers are in rarefied, air and to be
able to do that year after, year it takes a special.
Mindset and he's one of those. Guys he's not a
guy that's going to sit there and, say woewas be you,
know why CAN'T i have the money to spend mark
(39:52):
out and asio? This you, know this is very. Unfair
they just go out and they kick the tires on
guys that you, know may have been passed over two
or three. Times they look at unconventional, trades you, know
signing guys out an independent. Ball you've got to be
tremendous at player. Development and this is a franchise that
has gone from really being a kiss of death to
(40:12):
pitchers to all of a sudden the destination place for,
pitchers which is mind. Blowing if you follow this team
for any amount of, time you know you hear pitchers
SAYING i want to come the pitch for The Milwaukee
brewers because they know how to develop. Guys so when
you hear things like, that you know that The brewers
are doing things correctly behind the, scenes and you, know
(40:34):
kind of overcoming some of those financial shortcomings and disadvantages
that they have to fight year after. Years So Matt
arnold embraces. IT i think The brewers embrace it in.
General and who can argue with the success to this,
point you, Know and it's interesting how teams have gotten
it done over the. YEARS i, mean we know The
yankees and The Red sox and The dodgers and how
(40:56):
they get it. Done BUT i think everyone else is
on this plane, where for, example What houston did almost
a decade, ago blow it, up lose one hundred, games
three or four years in a, row and then all
of a, sudden if you've done your due diligence and
you have a good farm, system all of a, sudden
you're starting to compete For World series with a. Team
(41:18):
others have done. That Tampa bay has been tremendously. Resourceful
we saw in the past how The Florida marlins would
just get a year where they got a bunch of,
guys put them, together they win A World, series and
then blow the whole thing up in the next. Year
and you, KNOW i just wonder is that The brewers to,
me seem to be following more of That Tampa bay
type of. Thing they're not going to go all the
(41:40):
way down to the bottom and blow it up and
lose one hundred games three years in a, row but
they're going to be competitive year to. Year and that
might be harder to do because you, know it's not
quite like THE, nba where you're in the middle of this.
Thing you, finish you, know just outside the, lottery and
now you can't really improve yourself whole Lot but in
(42:00):
baseball you can do. This and it seems to me
that that's the formula they're. Following That Tampa bay, formula
would you, Agree, yeah one hundred. Percent AND i hate
to take it back to twenty twenty two and fans
will cringe when they hear this. Statement but more bites
of the Apple David stearns the infamous. Quote people don't
want to hear, it but it's one hundred percent. True
(42:21):
they have, seen you, know things can become toxic very
quickly if you go into a teardown like The Houston astros.
Did and a lot of people doubted whether The Houston
astros weever really going to be able to come back
from what they were going through because it was just
a brutal. Stretch now ultimately they, did we, know and
they become a really good. Franchise they want a world.
(42:43):
Series they've been involved in some controversies as, well but
the bottom line is they drafted, smartly they made good,
moves and they've they've bounced. Back that's not a, guarantee you,
know if you're going to do that teardown, model you've
got to be darn sure that you're gonna be able
to come out of. It on the other, side are for.
It The, brewers you, know to their, credit they they've
(43:04):
decided that you, KNOW i think ultimately there's going to
be a tear down year every now and. AGAIN i
think that has to happen over the course of. Time
it's kind of the natural cycle of. Things but they've
been able to stay consistent despite their disadvantages year after.
Year and what does it. Do it might frustrate the
fans a little bit that you, know, hey you know
(43:25):
we've won one playoff game since twenty, eighteen or you,
know whatever the, case whatever the argument is of the
of the, Day but as a, FAN i would think
that you would be excited and happy, that you, know
going into pretty much every year that your your, guys
if things fall the way they should and we can stay,
healthy are are going to be competitive and you're going
(43:47):
to be in the. Race and that's hard to, do
even for big market. Teams as we've, seen there's been
a lot of big market teams that have gone out
and spent a ton of money falling on their faces
and not been able to. Compete, so you, know The
brewers have taken to this. Philosophy they've decided they're. Good
they're going to avoid these these big, teardowns and you,
know multiple years of losing seasons and just try to remain,
(44:10):
competitive and they've been able to do, it and it's
it's really been, remarkable AND i think now we're finally
starting to see the rest of baseball kind of recognize.
That when you look at the numbers over the last
seven eight, years you, know The. Brewers the one stat
that really jumped out to me was of the last you,
know whatever it was four or five, years The BREWER
(44:32):
La dodgers have been in first place in their division
the most days in, Baseball brewers. Second you, know when
you start talking that kind of, air that REALLY i
think that drives home the point that The brewers have
been consistently. Competitive they've made the good they've made the
kind of the salient moves to to stay in that.
Position and, uh hat tip To Matt arnold in the front,
(44:54):
office everybody who makes those, decisions because it is not.
Speaker 4 (44:56):
Easy last one for, Me, Todd i'd be remiss IF
i didn't ask you About, yuke About Bob, Buker this
is obviously going to be a very it'll be a
bittersweet opening. Day i'm sure spring training had had a
very similar. Feel you got to know, HIM i think pretty,
well and wrote about it a couple of months. Ago
(45:18):
what did you what did you learn from? Him we all,
Laugh BUT i was able to even in my, ROLE
i was able to learn some things every. Day but
the energy he brought to the ballpark every. Day what
things will you remember and maybe learned from him in
your time getting to?
Speaker 1 (45:35):
KNOW i think more than, anything just kind of like
learn to embrace the moment and take a step. Back
because when Whenever yuke was at the, ballpark that was
it was like his life, blood, RIGHT i mean you
saw it the minute he'd walk in the clubost. Door
it's just it was like it energized, him you. Know
(45:55):
AND i don't think he ever forgot or ever took
for granted being at the ballpark on a day to day,
basis AND i, know speaking for me and being there every,
day it can become a. Grind let's be. Honest it
can become a. Grind are we Splitting adams or, Anything,
no absolutely, Not but it can become a. Grind and
(46:18):
just to think back To you've always had a smile
on his, face always something fun to talk, about joke to,
tell hokey in the, side whoever the case may. Be
he always made it fun to be around the. Ballpark
players flock to, him people flock to. Him it was
always fun and educational and entertaining to watch that kind of.
(46:40):
Transpire AND i, think if, Anything i'm going to try
to remember, that it's just always remember where you are
and always remember that you, know you're in a place
where you should be enjoying it and savoring it and
be appreciative of what you, have you, know more than,
ANYTHING i think that's WHAT i would say take away from.
(47:00):
It it's going to be hard from the standpoint of
just he. Was he was such a. Constant it was
like the sun rising in the east and setting in the.
West you knew every day you were going to See Bob.
Buker there always a smile on his, face something funny to,
say and if you were, lucky you, know you got
to chow them a little, better you, know he tell
(47:21):
you a funny story or something like. That and it's
going to be hard to hard to digest the fact
that that's not going to be around any. LONGER i,
feel really my heart goes out To Jeff, Levering Laye,
Grendel I'm matt, obviously you know all those guys, well you,
know the guys who worked with them on a day
(47:42):
but day to day, basis you, know they were like family.
Members and to to have to to let you go
and move, ON i know it is going to be incredibly.
Difficult and they've been so graceful and you, know getting
from what they had to enduring the off season to
now ever going to be. FORGOTTEN i Think Pat murphy said, it,
(48:02):
well you, Know yuke is always going to be around,
Us he's always going to be watching games from up,
above AND i think we just need to continue to remember.
That and but like, everything kind of life moves, on
and we're going to have to get used To Brewer
baseball without Hearing Bob buker on the radio. Anymore and
it's it's going to be. Jarring it's going to be a.
(48:23):
Challenge you, know AS i, Wrote i've never known anything
About Bob buker And Brewers baseball in my. Life this
is going to be the first time That i'm going
to endure. It AND i know a lot of people
are in the same boat as. Me so we just
have to do the best we can and try to
carry on and honor his. Legacy it, well Said todd well,
said and we'll all Miss. Bob AND i.
Speaker 3 (48:46):
Couldn't help WHEN i heard of his. Pants it couldn't
help but think, that you, know that's the one nothing's
forever in this. World BUT i was really Hoping Bob
buker would be the execution to the rule and of
me one hundred percent and fully expected that he. Would
but you're, right and we just all. Have AND i
remember crossing paths with him as far back as WHEN
i was filling in On cubs games back in the,
(49:08):
nineties AND i got to know him a little bit
better WHEN i came up To milwaukee and started doing
The packers. Games it would jump in and see him
every opening day for, sure and several times during the.
Season but, yeah, everybody we're all gonna miss, him especially as.
Listeners and he was so good up to the, End.
Matt you, know that's the thing about it is his last,
season some of his calls were just. Great they were you,
(49:30):
know he never really lost. ANYTHING i didn't.
Speaker 4 (49:33):
Think, no his his ability to make the big. Call
AND i always said about, him he could make a
bad game good and a good game. Legendary you, know
the stories that could go three or four innings when
it's ten to, one you, know you don't want to
get out of your car if you're driving around listener
or however you're listening to the. Game and his ability
(49:54):
to hit the big. Moments you, know some people say
those are. Easy, no not, always but his ability to
nail the call always.
Speaker 3 (50:04):
Was he.
Speaker 4 (50:05):
Was he was a teacher without even knowing it to
a lot of us broadcasters out there on how to
go about your.
Speaker 1 (50:12):
Craft, yeah AND i Think i'll leave you with. This you,
Know i'm sure you guys saw, it but we all
know what you meant To Brewers. BASEBALL i think maybe
the ultimate determiner of that was when we were in
spring training at the end Of february and The brewers
played The giants In. Scottsdale if you saw my interview
With Willia, damas and to See Willia, damas you, know
(50:36):
class guy one hundred percent all the. Way but to
See Willia damas like break down talking about. You you,
know after the, fact he's he's moved. On you, know
he's got his. Money not to say that that changes,
much but we all know in today's day and, age,
baseball professional, sports things move. Quickly people turn the. Page
(50:58):
and when you go from one franchise to, another IT'S
i think it's kind of human nature to all, right
Well i'm done with, that let's move on to the
next big. Thing but to see the Way Bob buker
impacted players across the, board you, know to See williadomas
really just kind of pour out his emotions and in
(51:18):
a foreign clubhouse and in front in front of people
that he doesn't, know just really spoke volumes to me
a of the class individual That. Williadomas's but be just
all the players and all the people That uke impacted
over the course of his. Life AND i bet you
could go back twenty, years thirty. Years there's probably guys
that we've long forgotten, about names that we have forgotten,
(51:41):
about who have stories About yuke and nice things That
yuke did for, them or whatever the case may. Be
that's just again just another small example the impact that
you had and what we're all going to be missing moving.
Forward it's that he's, truly truly, irreplaceable no doubt out about.
It hey can't thank you Enough Tad rosiek for taking
(52:03):
time out with. Us by the will be the third
or fifth inning of the opener that you invoked The
Tom hardycourt. Line when will this season ever? End it?
Will it will be after the first. Pitch that, Was
that's always been and that's that's the. Stick we always
do it in spring training and then once the regular season.
(52:23):
Starts SO i WILL i will let you guys know
too a little little inside. Baseball tom is coming. Back
he's going to be uh at the ballpark the second
day of not the home, opener BUT i. FORGET i
think It's. April is It april? First? Yeah, oh how
fitting is?
Speaker 4 (52:42):
That?
Speaker 1 (52:43):
Right april? First tom audreport back In, milwaukee and uh
he's going to be throwing out the first pitch On april,
second that third game against The, royals and, uh yours
truly is going to be catching. Him so should be fun.
Times but, yeah say that is that is an all
time favorite to go to AND i cannot wait to
(53:03):
type that out and send it out to the.
Speaker 4 (53:04):
World The prince Of darkness returns To.
Speaker 1 (53:08):
America Fataty.
Speaker 4 (53:09):
Bield i'm glad there's a roof because you know it will.
Speaker 3 (53:13):
Rain.
Speaker 4 (53:16):
No hardercourt is the. Best he's such a great, dude
So i'm sure he's enjoying enjoying. Retirement but, yeah it'll
be good to. SAY i just hope you have protective
gear BECAUSE i think he might bounce.
Speaker 1 (53:27):
It and the contrarius About bob. Borrowing h you, know
send Some catchers. Gear AND i was Telling, tom we don't,
want we, want we don't want to see a fifty
fifty cent you, know the ball going aplay or something like.
That you, Know i'm prepared for. Anything big Mit catcher's.
Gear let's.
Speaker 3 (53:42):
Go he got, It, so thank you so. Much thanks,
guys appreciate. It that does it for us this time
special thanks to our Guest Tad, rosiek beat reporter on
The brewers for The Milwaukee Journal. Sentinel our engineer producer
Is dave Mccainn our executive Produce sir Is Jeff. Tyler For,
matt this Is. Wayne thank you very much for listening
(54:04):
to the lay of The la pay.
Speaker 2 (54:05):
Podcast The lrevi La pey podcast is a production Of
iHeartRadio podcasts with Hosts Way larovy And Matt, lapey with
production engineering By dave. McCann The Lreovie La pey podcast
is presented BY Uw Credit. Union here for every you
listen to other episodes available on The iHeartRadio, App Apple,
(54:27):
podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite.
Speaker 3 (54:29):
Podcasts
I thought Garret Mitchell would be an X factor for
the Brewers this season. Christian Yelich absolutely an X factor
for them this year. And if they can I think
if they can get one hundred and thirty games out
of both Mitchell and Yelich and you get that production
that you would kind of project with one hundred and
thirty games, I think they're going to be, you know,
assuming everybody else stays healthy and produces the way they're
(00:20):
expected to, I think they'll be right in the mix
again because it's a very winnable division.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
This is the Laravian la Pey Podcast, a production of
iHeartRadio Podcasts, with host Swayne Larvy, the voice of the
Green Bay Packers, and Matt Lapey, the voice of Wisconsin
Badgers football and men's basketball. The Larovian la Pey Podcast
is presented by you w Credit Union.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Here for every U, HI, everybody, I'm Wayne Larovy and
I'm Matt lape On this episode of the Laravie la
Pey Podcast. Major League Baseball season officially underway, with the
Dodgers and Cubs playing last week. In the rest of
the major start this week, in particular, the Milwaukee Brewers,
who take on the defending America League champion New York
(01:06):
Yankees in the Bronx. Our guest is Todd Roseiack of
the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. His beat is the Brewers, but
Todd also spends some time on college basketball. We'll talk
about that as well. Speaking of which, the basketball tournament
moves to the Sweet sixteen. Oh and for those of
you who didn't make the second week of the tournament,
the transfer portal is now open. Stay tuned. We've got
(01:29):
good stuff coming up on the layer of the Lapey Podcast.
Ready to give fees the stiff arm. UW Credit Union
can help because since nineteen thirty one they've been committed
to eliminating fees for members joined today at UWCU dot org,
ensured by NCUA terms and conditions apply. We welcome into
(01:50):
the lay of the Lapey Podcast Todd Rosiack, Milwaukee Brewers
beat reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. And Todd, you
also have done a lot of basketball over your career.
I know you have a great love for college basketball
and you have the opportunity to be at the feiser
for the NCAA started the NCAA Tournament to give us
your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
First of all, just a lot of fun. I was
telling Matt before you got on that it's kind of
like riding a bike. That was the first NCAA tournament
of any sort of covered since twenty eleven, my last
year doing Marquette, and it was it was really cool
to see a lot of familiar faces. Marquette always does
a great job hosting that event. You know, bumped into
(02:30):
Tom Crean among some other people, and just just really
cool atmosphere. As you guys know, being at the NCAA
tournaments and stuff, there's just something magical about it, and
people are so excited. And then having all the local
ties as well, different teams coming in. Iowa stayed heavy
heavy Milwaukee in Wisconsin connections. There was a kid from
(02:53):
Sheboygan Lutheran Sam Decker's old stomping grounds, who played for Lipscomb,
so that was pretty neat, you know, distant Milwaukee tie
with Illinois, uh, and just some really good games too,
So I was I was thinking. I covered Thursday and
Friday only and saw some good games that day. In
(03:14):
the last game of the day was Xavier losing to Illinois,
and I went back and listened to Sean Miller's press
conference after the fact that I thought, wow, this is yeah,
I know Sean Miller is I've seen him, you know,
many times, and you know, really put a good bow
on their season and really well spoken and oh, you know,
really looking forward to getting back to it next year
and up next day. Oh see you later on in
(03:36):
the Texas. So as you guys know, it's a crazy business,
and the coaching carousel starts up quickly, you know, the
transfer portal. Now guys are jumping in already and stuff.
So it's a it's it's a crazy game. It's much
different than the one that I left years ago. Yeah,
that's with with with Sean Leavin. That's the second time
obviously he's left Xavier. But even the you know, last
(03:57):
week Will Wade coaching McNee, everybody knew he was going
to n C State, which was awkward looking sounding.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
But with the portal opening Monday of this week, you've
got to You've got to do it. I mean, that's
just how this works. It's it's it's a it's an
unbelievably stupid Yeah, it's you can't you can't make this up.
The stupidity of it. The portal opened in the midst
of the tournament. But I get what NC State's doing.
(04:28):
If you got your guy, you've got to get your
guy because it's all fluid.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah yeah, And I was I was talking to Tom
Green about this at the tournament, and you know, Wayne,
you know you talked to bar too, Bart Lundy. Just
the insanity of the whole system and everything. I mean,
it is what it is now, and I understand it.
And you know, yeah, for the players because for so
long they've been kind of held down and you know,
tied to the coaches, and there was that penalty year
(04:55):
and he transferred and all that sort of stuff. But
for a guy like bar Lundy who's trying to buil
a really good mid major program. Three years at UWM,
three twenty win seasons, you know, they basically become the
Milwaukee Brewers. Those programs become the Milwaukee Brewers of college basketball.
They develop guys like Jamichael Stillwell Denas Folks says, a
(05:15):
really good year this year, and what happens, you know,
they're gone. You know, at the end of the year,
they're going to the next big thing for a lot
of money. You know, Jamichael Stillwell is going to get
well more money for one year playing wherever he plays
at next then UWM has for its entire program nil.
And again you can't blame the kids, but it's just
(05:36):
it's a messed up system where you know, every year
teams and coaches have to be so aware of that
and cognizant of that, and you have to sometimes turn
down these postseason tournament invites because you're worried about a
having enough players to feel the team if you're going
to play in it. And B, like you said, the
transfer portals open so early. Now you got to get
(05:58):
on the on the ball and started recruiting your team
for next year. So something's got to change because this
is too wild West. I think, you know, guys, and
Matt I would ask you this too. Bart Lundy was
on with our friend Tim van Voord and the sports
director Fox six. This is about a week and a
half ago. It was a Sunday night show. The NCAA
(06:20):
tournament brackets have been announced and all that, and they
had bart Lundy on and you know, he mentioned this,
and I thought the most salient point he made was
he said, you know, I spent my career building programs
and he did He's been very highly successful Queen's College
in Charlotte, North Carolina, and elsewhere as well, and at Milwaukee.
He says, now, based on this system, I have to
(06:43):
build rosters. And Matt, are you also seeing that on
the bigger level. I mean, Marquette and Purdue are basically
dinosaurs in this day and age because they have been
able to do it without getting into the transfer portal,
hook line and sinker.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
And but they're the real exception. Everyone else seems to
be doing exactly what bart Lundy said, and that is
you got to build a roster. Hell with a program,
build a roster. And and you know, even you know,
several coaches have said, why are we Why are we
recruiting freshmen when they're not going to stay with us.
They're not going to be with us very long unless
(07:23):
it's a one and done guy. Then there's no really
upside of recruiting freshmen. And that's really to me. I
don't get where where this is going or how this
is going to be sustainable. But Matt, are you seeing
that on the major level also, that hey, it's about
building a roster, not a program. Absolutely, Yeah, there's no question.
(07:43):
Now at a place like Wisconsin. And you know, to
Todd's point about how the Panthers, how you view the Panthers,
I look at the Badger's much the same way as
the Brewers of the Big Ten, because you're not going
to go dollar for dollar.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
With Michigan Indiana. The money that they're going to have
through there, through the collectives down there. And you know
what this revenue share will be that you know, each
school makes its own decision as to how much what
percentage of the revenue share will go to each sport.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
It's going to be.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Football heavy, buy and large for everyone. But yeah, I
think you look at Wisconsin this time last year, Chuckie Hepburn,
who had actually started some spring workouts at Wisconsin, but
he could make more money in Louisville. A J. Storre
could make a lot more money going to Kansas. Connor resigion.
This playing time was shoppy at best at Wisconsin, so
he found a better opportunity for him at Nebraska. But
(08:37):
I think it's a it's maybe a little lesser extent
with the Badgers than with the Panthers, because what they
still want to have these core guys. You know, with
this past season, you had Stephen Krow and Carter Gilmore
and even Kamari McGee and Max Klesband who transferred from
other programs there, Wisconsin gotts. They're from the state three
years here, so they're able to culture is a word
(09:01):
that's use so much. But they know what is expected.
They know what you're supposed to do, and you pass
that on to to the new faces, be they freshman
or transfers. And I think, you know, if fingers crossed,
all indications are guys like Nolan Winter and John Blackwell
will be back at Wisconsin next year for their junior seasons.
(09:22):
Those are the kind of guys you build your culture around.
In addition to this to their talent. But it's different,
and it's you hope at some point that there can
be I'm all for players getting paid, I mean, for
too long they weren't, but there has to be some
type of a structure. And it just seems to me,
I'm not a really smart guy, but like leagues or
(09:45):
entities that actually know what they're doing, the free agencieson
begins after the season is over, not in the midst
of the postseason, like we're saying. We see it. With football,
we had a Penn State quarterback who wasn't the starter,
but he played in every game, but he the announced
he was transferring in the midst of the college football playoffs.
Scottie Pippens's son at Michigan is in the port Michigan
(10:08):
is still playing in the Sweet sixteen. That's just you know,
if it's there to I don't blame the player, but
the system is beyond ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah. I thought JJ Watt had a great tweet yesterday
if you saw that, basically saying this is the This
is akin to having free agency kicking off during Super
Bowl Week? Yeah, is it? I mean it takes away
from the greatness that is the NCAA tournament is all
of now, all these questions what, you know, what should
be directed about. Hey, you know, you guys were Wolverines.
(10:40):
You guys are in the sweet sixteen? How cool is this?
And everybody's asking them why is you know, justin where
are you going to? Where are you going to school?
And you know, asking Dusty May, what do you think
about the transfer portal and all? It takes away from
it so much it's it's really unfortunate. But again that's
that's the way this game has gone and it's it's
really it's it's gone from you know, the quote unquote
(11:01):
student athlete to just what like JJ said in his tweet, too,
let's just call it what it is. That's professional sports now.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Yeah, oh so we should probably get the an I spoil.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, you're right, go ahead, way, yeah, I would think
so about the one well, I ask question. I want
to ask both of you guys. As I looked at
the tournament and uh, you watch the games and all that,
I think what we're missing with these teams that are
put together year to year is that you don't have,
especially when it comes to tournament time, a real baseline
(11:34):
for who these teams are and how will they perform,
and you see a lot of inconsistency. Like you know,
I told you guys in Matt, you and I talked
about this. I thought Illinois was a great like sixty
that could go to the Sweet sixteen, probably the Elite eight.
They had that kind of talent and ability. But they
were a team that was just put together a few
months ago, you know, six seven, eight months ago, whatever
(11:54):
it was. And you know a lot of teams in
the tournament are like that. So you look at the
talent and say, well, this team should go long way,
and yet the inconsistency. They look like gangbusters one night
and they get beat the next night. You know, is
it hard to get because none of these players have
grown up in the system together, So there's not a
(12:16):
real when the chips are down and it's not cutting
time late in the ballgame in the NCAA tournament, you
don't know how these kids are going to react together
in a team sport. That to me struck me during
this tournament. I don't know if it hit you guys
like that or not. Well.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I think in some cases when you're exactly right now.
Illinois had injuries, they had an illness, They had a
bug that ripped through that team for multiple weeks and
that put them off track. But I thought it seemed
like they were getting healthy at the right time to
make a run. But you have Arkansas round floor. You know,
they know John cal Perry had to go find gods
(12:51):
to build a roster of Michigan. Dusty met a pretty
significant turnover there. Danny wolf Vlad Golden Golden comes up
with him to ann Arbor. They you know, Danny Wolfe
terrific player, Roddy Gale comes in from Ohio state. Some
of these programs, the talent is there and they start
to mesh by February and when you're seeing that with
(13:14):
some of these programs right now too, so being the
Arkansas story is pretty vivid right now. Kentucky as well.
So some never do like Indiana. You know, there was
up and down all year with the big money that
they had for NIL, but with the other with some
of these other programs, particularly those who are still playing
that are still playing, it could be a lot of
(13:35):
new faces, but they're discombobulated in November, December and maybe
even into January. But it all starts to come together
when you get to the final third of the regular
season and then end of the postseason, and you're seeing
that with some of these teams in the sweet sixteen.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Yeah, Wayne, I'll jump in and just talking about UWM specifically.
You know, it's obviously it's a program that you know
and that you see on a regular basis. You know,
you probably would agree that every year, having to turn
over that roster like that, sometimes you have to roll
the dice on guys you don't necessarily no personalities. Chemistry
I think was a big issue for UWM all three years.
(14:13):
You know, we saw guys suspended, We saw guys who
just didn't mesh in the group. And I think that's
why you look at a roster and you see, Okay,
there's a lot of physical talent here. And at the
high major level, you know, Matt, like you were talking
about like a Michigan, I mean, you've got major major
players there, talent can sometimes overcome a lot of that.
At the mid major level with WM specifically, you know,
(14:38):
those problems I think rear their heads a little bit
more and you don't have that wiggle room as far
as talent goes. And then you get being consistencies. You
go on these runs as a team where you know,
you struggle and guys get suspended and whatever. And I
think that's that's part of the reason why a UWM
that was picked to win the Eisen League this year,
(15:01):
when you're just looking at the physical talent, ultimately did
not do that and bout out in their first Horizon
League game. It's just that it's such a crapshoot. You
don't have enough time to learn who these guys are.
You're not recruiting them over you know, a period of
a year or more like you used to do with
high school kids. Now it's just like, hey, can you
play a spot? You know you're six', eight do you
(15:22):
have a? Pulse let's, go let's see what you can.
Do that's literally how it, is and that usually doesn't
work out too well in the, end so somebody's got
to figure it.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
OUT Uw Credit Unions mobile banking offers a simple way
to check, accounts make, transfers and. More now that's a
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Speaker 3 (15:44):
Ncua, Well, todd we have you here for baseball and all,
right college basketball talk IS i know you do BECAUSE
i know college basketball is something dear to your, heart
AS i mentioned. Earlier but The Milwaukee, brewers what kind
of a spring has it? BEEN i know they've had
some injuries and some set banks in that, regard but
would he expect going into this week's start of the regular.
(16:04):
Season so it's a good, Question. Wayne you, know a
lot kind of, transpired and in spring, TRAINING i would
say one of the bigger Story lions was was dipping
into the pocketbook and going out and Signing Jose. QUINTANA
i was wondering at the start of spring training how
long he would be out. There you, know there were
a number of players that good players available that still
(16:25):
had not been, signed and that wound up being a
really good move with all the all the injuries that
they had throughout the course of. Camp so to add
a guy who a always kicked their butts previously with
all the other stops he'd made in the major leagues
and in the division to their rotation now is real.
Big he's not going to be ready right at the
(16:46):
start of the season. Here they're going to have to
figure out something at least for the first time through
before he's able to join the. Rotation but just to
add another, veteran a left hander who can do the
things that he does was really. Big and you, know
the rest of the, camp to me was was really
a couple of. Things it was who's going to play?
(17:06):
Shortstop and ultimately the way it turned out was it
Was Joey. Ortiz so one from we Think Joey ortiz
is going to play short stop to a couple of
days of, like, hey Maybe Bryce terrang is going to do.
It to All Bryce terrang's shoulders hurt, now so let's
Put Joey RTI's back over. There he's going to be
our short stop, Ultimately so we'll see him there At
Yankee stadium On thursday when The brewers open. Up and
(17:29):
and just you, know some of the young, guys The Caleb,
durbans one of those guys that came over in the
in The Devin williams, trade you, Know South, Freelich, Jackson,
curio the kind of the young core of the. Team you,
know how did they do in spring? Training how how they?
Developed did they kind of short up some of the
holes in their? Games and really all those guys had,
(17:50):
good good. CAMPS i would say overall injuries aside going
into going into the start of the regular, season they're
pretty well. Positioned that, said there's not a lot of.
Depth you, know if they keep having any injury, problems you,
know then things might get a little bit. Dicey but
as of right, now it's a pretty it's A i would,
say a pretty solid twenty six with the. Mike with
(18:15):
most teams twenty four to twenty five twenty six spots
on the roster probably going to be a little bit
fluid to.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
START i ALWAYS i look at this team from FROM
a from afar. Now BUT i have the paranoia the
second time around for guys Like terrang Or. Tease If
Gary mitchell can stay. Healthy, Obviously Jackson, surio there's, that you,
know the so called sophomore, slump whatever you want to call.
It but AM i AM i too optimistic to think
(18:43):
That churio is the least likely to have to deal
with that because just his, approach how he takes every at,
bat that a guy like him is unlikely to regress
the way maybe some people might think that he would
be vulnerable are.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Regressing, YEAH i think obviously the, book you, know the
book is kind of out on him, now and teams
are going to have a specific way of attacking. HIM
i think he showed a tremendous maturity last. Year it
was really. Surprising you, know we've seen a time and
time again where these vaunted prospects come up and you,
know everybody thinks they're going to tear tear up the,
(19:21):
league and after about you, know a month or six
weeks or, something all of a, sudden those weaknesses start,
showing and teams just are relentless attacking those and before,
long the guy who's lost confidence the franchise has lost,
confidence they send them down and they either come back
and never have that, confidence or you have to go
(19:42):
down and just make these major. Adjustments to The brewers,
credits they Kept jackson sure you in the majors last
year when he really started struggling kind of the end Of,
april and let him just kind of watch and talk
to veterans and kind of work his work his issues
out at the major league. Level and To Jackson curio's,
(20:02):
credit he never lost. Confidence he just kept his mouth,
quiet mouth, shut kept, quiet learned from the veterans around,
him did the, work and as we saw from basically
once the calendar turned over To june to the rest
of the, season he was just. Incredible and toward the
end of the, SEASON i don't think anybody would argue
(20:23):
he was The brewer's best player twenty years. Old in the,
playoffs he was The brewer's best, player no question about.
It so he's coming off a tremendous. Spring the guy
hit almost five hundred with a nice amount of at bats,
too so it was, not you, know kind of a fluky.
Thing he was hitting the ball. HARD i think there's
room for a really big amount of growth For Jackson
(20:46):
curio in year. Two and you, know just based on
What i've, seen What i've heard people That i've talked,
to you, know this talk that, hey This Jackson curio
could be a POTENTIAL mvp candidate in a few. YEARS
i think it's. REAL i think he's that.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Good you, know let me ask you a little bit,
about you, know how this team will get it. Done last,
year this team was very aggressive, offensively not so much
from the home run, ball but they would put people in,
motion they were stealing, bases they were doing a lot
of that type of stuff manufacturing. Runs and, defensively they
were one of the best defensive teams in all of.
(21:21):
Baseball that made their pitching staff even. Better is this
team's Model is this team's m a going to be
about the? Same?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
YEAH i think you're going to see basically the same,
thing if not even more aggressiveness on the base pass as.
Well and it was really kind of jarring to. See
we didn't know What Pat murphy was going to, do
but we didn't really know his coaching, style his managing
style until the game. Started and you, know what are
we used to in baseball these? Days the home run.
(21:51):
Ball it's incredibly. BORING i get. It the numbers tell,
you you, know don't give up, outs don't bunt the,
ball swing for the. Fences three year on home is
always going to be more. VALUABLE i get. That but
what's lost in that is the beauty of baseball itself
and the fun of the. Game us old guys growing
up and, watching you, know hitting behind, runners stealing, bases
(22:13):
dropping the bunt, down getting guys over to, second getting
guys over to. Third it's a lost art and that's
the Way Pat murphy chose to, play and it really
benefited them in the long. Run you, know guys Like
Bryce terang perfectly suited to that type of, thing and
he stole fifty bases last year in addition to being
named the top overall defender in The National. LEAGUE i
(22:36):
don't think anybody could have first saw that. Coming you,
Know South freelik had some struggles, offensively but still fits
that that kind of that mo offensively of just getting on,
base stealing, bases being a. Pest he won A Gold
glove and right. Field another one of these young, Guys
Garret Mitchell matt you mentioned him. EARLIER i think he's
(22:57):
really going to be AN x factor for the team this.
Year he's got power, potential but he's also another one
of these fast guys who can wreak havoc on the.
Bases he can drop down a, Bunt SO i think
that recipe is going to be exactly the. SAME i,
think you, know just trying to get on, base trying
to rattle, pitchers trying to rattle. Defenses and that's the big,
(23:17):
thing right when you get on, base you want to
rattle these. Guys you want to make them think about
you over first, base and all of a, sudden you,
know your your focus shifts from what you're trying to
do to the batter to dealing with this guy over
at first. Base he turned back to home and you,
know you throw a, meatball and all of a, sudden
it's a two or three run, homer and the game has.
Changed so you, know they they did not go out
(23:39):
and add anything of note in the in the offseason
as far as free agency. Goes you, KNOW i didn't
even mention To. Christianelich yet there's another HUGE x factor for.
Them thirty three years. Old he's looked really good in
spring training so. Far can his back hold up over
the entirety of the, season we'll, see BUT i think
you're going to see pretty much the same style of
(23:59):
base ball and the same you, know kind of the same,
approach both offensively and, defensively and it worked out well
from last. YEAR i don't see your reason why wouldn't
this year if you've got that progression in your players coming.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Back i'm so glad you were talking about that the
style of, play because IF i say, It i'm the old,
guy you, know back in the. Day but there's nothing
wrong with going first to. Third there's nothing wrong with
turning a blop single into a double and rather than
the three, hour forty minute game where my team hits
two solo shots and your team hits one and it's you,
(24:31):
know two to one is your final. Score you Mentioned, yelich,
though what is do you think do they? MEASURE i,
mean this is a big, picture crystal ball kind of.
Thing if they get one hundred and twenty games out
of him or you, know one, thirty or do they
think he's a wired and wire, guy or how do
they how do you view how they would approach using,
(24:53):
him getting him in the lineup throughout.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
The course of the, SEASON i, think, like you, know
best case, scenario if you can get you, know one
thirty plus out of, HIM i think you're doing tremendously.
Well they obviously were very cautious at the start of spring,
training as they should have, been easing him, in letting
him kind of dictate the pace because you just don't.
(25:15):
Know anybody who's had back, PROBLEMS i think would. Agree
you just don't know until you're out there in the
moment and you know how that back is going to.
React and you're talking about a sport that is just
it's all about rotational, movement, right and just the violence
of those. Swings you've got to make darn sure that
you're one hundred percent healed and in a good spot
(25:36):
with all your rehab and your chorus strong before you
can really kind of let. Loose and he passed all
those tests in spring training, early and you, know Knock
On wood made it through with flying. COLORS i think
what you'll see early in the season is a good
mix of him starting AT, dh working him into the
(25:57):
field more left. Field even though they Lost Lake perkins
the injury for a, while they've got pretty good depth out,
there and by Dhing yelich at the. Start that way
you're able to Get Jackson, Cheerio Garrett, mitchell Salth freelich
in the outfield on a regular, basis and Once yelich
kind of gives them the go ahead that, Hey i'm,
(26:18):
good start working in and in left, field and then
you can start working on these combinations that you have. Too,
so AS i, SAID i Thought Garrett mitchell would be
AN x factor for The brewers this. Season Christian yelich
absolutely AN x factor for them this. Year and IF
i think if they can get one hundred and thirty
games out of Both mitchell And yelich and you get
(26:39):
that production that you would kind of project with one
hundred and thirty, GAMES i think they're going to be you,
know assuming everybody else stays healthy and produces the way
they're expected, TO i think they'll be right in the
mix again because it's a very winnable. Division you.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Know let me ask you about the on the pitching.
Staff Brandon. Woodruff we saw that he got an inning
or so in the spring training and it looked like
he's in a position where he might be able to
come on later as the season goes along and help
out what's your impression to. That what are they thinking for?
Him is is it Late april Early? May when do
you expect to see him on the roster and. Pitching,
(27:14):
yeah they've been very Very why it's about timetables with,
him he has as, well BECAUSE i just don't think
they really knew at that time when we first started
asking the. Questions but hats off to. Him what a
tremendous story to go through what he did and basically
just had his shoulder completely, rebuilt and to go from
(27:38):
an entire season of just rehabbing and strengthening and checking
all those, boxes jumping over all those, hurdles to coming
into camp and you, know taking those baby steps of
like you, know throwing an inning of live batting practice
and then two. INNINGS i think, that you, know human
nature is to try to skip steps and, HEY i feel,
(27:58):
great let's you, know let's let's do. More let's do.
More they resisted that. Urge they stuck to the, program
And Brandon, woodruff by all, accounts is in a tremendous
spot right. Now you, know as you, mentioned through an
inning in A Cactus league, game you know they're gonna
they're gonna keep working. Him you, know he's gonna eventually
(28:19):
get to a rehab assignment in the minor.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Leagues his velocity has started to come. BACK i THINK
i saw that he was he was throwing ninety. Five you,
know this is a guy that was regularly dialing up ninety,
eight ninety. Nine who knows if that's ever going to
be in the tank for him moving. Forward he was,
very very adamant telling us in spring training multiple, times,
guys don't judge me on my first, Half judge me
(28:44):
on my second. Half that's when He that's when you'll
see the Old Brandon, WOODRUFF i, think AND i think
that's totally. Right but just just to get him back
to this point into the, CONVERSATION uh is a tremendous
thing for him and the franchise because what a quality,
guy what a quality. Individual just just a credit to
The brewers in the game of. Baseball As Brandon woodruff
(29:06):
so way in the kind of roundabout answer your, QUESTION
i think Late april is absolutely within. Play it seems,
like you, know maybe early may at the absolute, latest
but just to know you kind of have that in.
Reserve what a great feeling for The, brewers you, know
AS i had mentioned, earlier there's a lot of a
lot of injury problems with their pitching right. Now to
(29:28):
be able to add him in and you, know get
that experience into the, mix it's always a good. Thing
so hats off To Brandon. Woodriff what a job and
you know what a guy he. Is what addition he's
going to be once he's able to start pitching in.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
Games, yeah he's one of the easiest guys to root,
For isn't it just that was really really good. Dude the,
bullpen it seems Like todd they always figure it. Out
there could be guys at the casual fangor who you,
know there's gonna be a new closure. Obviously Devid williams go,
on how do you feel about? That, hell how do
you think they feel about where they're bullpen since right?
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Now, yeah that's that's the one area like this is
going back even to The Doug melvin, days where you
know they've never spent. Heavily, guy there's so much year
to year variance with guys in the bullpen that you
you really don't want to spend, heavily and that that's
part of the part of the reason why they Let
Devin williams, Go let's be, honest it was mostly. Money
but it's a SPOT i think where they feel very
(30:25):
comfortable to what they. HAVE i like the fact that
they've got a lot of versatility and a lot of they.
Give they have pitchers who throw different styles and get
hitters different. LOOKS i think that's the most important thing
in a. Bullpen, obviously you've got to be able to
throw the ball over the. Plate that's number. One but you,
know you've got guys that are really hard throwers Like trevor,
(30:46):
McGill who's going to be the closer this year. Again,
Uh Nick. Mears you, know you've got left handers Like
Jared kanig And Brian. Hudson you've got control, Artists you've
got long, Guys you've got soft. Tossers i'm including in
that group the four or five six guys who are
going to kind of bounce back Between nashville And milwaukee
(31:09):
like they always. Do so you've got a group of you,
know probably you know twelve to, fourteen fifteen arms that
you're going to cycle through over the course of the,
season who all do different, things all bring different things
to the, table and buy and large are coming off
with good springs and have pretty good track records either
(31:29):
With milwaukee or where they were. Previously so that's the
one thing that The brewers have always done. Well credit
to their front office and their analytics. People they have
a specific recipe in what they like and what they
prefer to have in terms of. Relievers they've done it.
Well and time will, tell BUT i think it seems
(31:50):
like it will at the very least will not be
a weakness of This brewers. Team let's just say that
it should be another strength for The brewers this.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
Year do want to as we look at beyond The
brewers and we're talking To Todd rosiac beat Writer Milwaukee
Journal sentinel and The Milwaukee brewers the division and that's
what it comes down. To The brewers have won back
to back division. CHAMPIONSHIPS i don't know if casual fans
really realize, That but how do you see this division this?
(32:20):
Year because a lot of people are talking about The
cubs may be ready to fire and and maybe they you,
know The Pittsburgh pirates have one of the best young.
Rotations as you pointed out in your. Articles Terry francona
is now the manager of The. Reds he's an exceptional
managers we've seen over the. Years what do you see
in the division in where The brewers sit in this
division going IN a couple of things to jump out to.
(32:42):
Me number, one AS i mentioned, BEFORE i just think
it's eminently. WINNABLE i don't think anybody went out and
won the off. SEASON i think if The cubs have
Kept Cody ballinger after they had made That Kyle tucker,
trade unquestionably they would be the. Favorites but that's what's
kind of head, scratching As you've got this this monster
down At Wrigley field that can literally print, money yet
(33:04):
they're playing almost like mid major style front office.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Moves you. Know it's just it's very, weird And i'm
wondering If Craig council is kind of having buyers remorse
a little bit moving down there because of. That SO
i think The cubs will be in the mix for,
sure that they made some good moves toward the end
of the off season bolstering the pitching, staff and AS i,
Said Kyle, Tucker i'm sure he'll, be you, know in
(33:29):
the mix among you, know the best players in The
National league this. Year. Uh one of the one of
the big storylines for me personally and anybody who's kind
of followed baseball in The Central division in, particular is
the step back that The cardinals are willingly. Taking it seems,
like you, know and you hear all the baseball people
say never underestimate The, cardinals and and you, KNOW i
(33:50):
do feel like that that's true to a certain. Extent
but you know that they've willingly kind of gone into
teardown mode and they've recognized the weakness in that, franchise
which is developing players young, players and that's what they're
going back to. Now so IT'S i think it's going
to be weird Watching Nolan aaronatto there kind of knowing
that they tried to trade him and he said, no you,
(34:13):
know so he's back kind OF i don't want to
say persona non, grada but you just kind of feel
like if they get off to a bad, start that
you know they're going to revisit that trade for, him
try to move him somewhere that he would be happy going.
To so that that's a team that you know is
probably going to finish in the in the bottom half
of the. DIVISION i would think The pirates you, know
(34:35):
they never want to spend. Money it's it's. Incredible you've
got this this once in a lifetime pitching staff here
coming together With Paul, Skeins Jared jones looks like he's
going to be an absolute, Monster Mitch, Keller they've got
a lot of other young arms coming through the, system
and yet they refuse to spend money to bolster that
with any sort of a of a of a you,
(34:56):
know threat of an offensive. Attack it's really it's really.
Incredible so that's that's kind of a weird. Team and
then The Cincinnati, reds to, me they're they're kind of
the the wildcard or the dark horse if you want
to stay in the division this. Year AND i attribute
that mostly to the addition To Terry, francona a guy
who's just been a proven winner wherever he's. Been you,
(35:18):
know The reds of actually have probably, arguably from top to,
bottom the best rotation in the in the. Division they
might not have the pure talent that The pirates, do
but you, know they've got some really good arms, too
And elie de La cruz some really talented young offensive players.
Too SO i Think terry Frank cone is kind of that,
right that veteran guy that can kind of guide him
(35:40):
in the right, direction get them doing the right, things
Whereas David bell was not able to do. That If
Frank ConA can kind of push all those right managerial,
buttons to, me The reds are the team to. Beat
but you never. Know you, know there's, injuries of, course
there's variance in, play and you, know we can ever
underestimate The brewers either as men one of the last
(36:01):
two divisions and last year at this, time nobody was
talking about The brewers as being as being a team
that was going to be in the, mix and look
at what. Happened they won by ten, games running away with.
It so it's it should be. Fun it's definitely the
most competitive division in. Baseball people would argue also the
worst division in. BASEBALL i could see that as. Well
(36:22):
but if you're A brewer, FAN i think you should
go into the season feeling encouraged that even though your
team did not make, many if any offseason, moves any sexy,
MOVES i think if you stay, healthy you're going to
be right in the.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
Mix you had a great piece here recently On Matt
arnold and just giving readers a taste of his, path
which is, incredible you, KNOW i, mean you really have
to love the game to have the path That Matt
arnold has gone on in his years With Tampa. Bay
when they're in a division with The yankees and The Red,
(36:57):
sox he's always been unching away. Class how much of
that has helped him be as successful as he's been
in his time In. MILWAUKEE i, mean it's it's it's pretty.
Remarkable you look at the landscape of Major League, baseball
it's like college, athletics ye cap all, that but they're
always in the. Mix that That Tampa bay experience more than,
(37:20):
anything you think help him, Now, yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
That's a that's a great, question and one hundred percent.
AGREE i had a really, long kind of sit down
interview with him for that, story and that was one
of the one of the messages that really came, across
and that was one of the QUESTIONS i, asked was
your you, know the the experience at those prior, stops
how does that prepare you for what you're going through
now With, milwaukee where you know you're never going to
(37:44):
have the, resources you're never going to be in the you,
know in the running for these big time, players and
he absolutely brought that. Up and you look at the
names that he was associated with in that front office
In Tampa. BAY i mean that was a literal who's
who in baseball, now The Andrew friedman's and the Kaim,
blooms and you, know you can go on and. On
(38:05):
there's really five or six that are now either running
organizations or have run organizations in the, past and they
all really kind of cherished that underdog. Mentality and they
knew every year going into the season in The Al,
east that you've got to unseat The, yankees you've got
to unseat The Red. Sox you, know The orioles were
(38:26):
starting to come into Play Tampa. Toronto you never really
kind of knew year from year what they were going to.
Do but they always have resources to be, competitive and
it's one of those things that you have, TO i,
think kind of embrace and they never ran from. It
and you, Know Matt arold is his. Background he kind
of just has that grinder mentality. Anyway you, know if
(38:47):
you read the story just to you, know driving two
hours one way every day back and forth The Dodger
stadium and traffic and you, know getting that job with
The Texas, rangers and you, know living in a little
efficiency apartment and eating hot dogs and tortillas and just
working crazy. Hours it's and it's what all of us
have to do to excel in our. Professions, Right you
(39:09):
got to pay your. Dues AND i think that that's
a big part Of Matt arnold's. Story so now that
he's being asked to keep this franchise at a, really
let's be, honest kind of a ridiculously high level without
any of the resources that any of these other teams
have that have kind of been in that mix in
(39:30):
the last seven eight years of you, know constant playoffs
into the talk of winning the division or winning. Divisions you,
know The brewers are in rarefied, air and to be
able to do that year after, year it takes a special.
Mindset and he's one of those. Guys he's not a
guy that's going to sit there and, say woewas be you,
know why CAN'T i have the money to spend mark
(39:52):
out and asio? This you, know this is very. Unfair
they just go out and they kick the tires on
guys that you, know may have been passed over two
or three. Times they look at unconventional, trades you, know
signing guys out an independent. Ball you've got to be
tremendous at player. Development and this is a franchise that
has gone from really being a kiss of death to
(40:12):
pitchers to all of a sudden the destination place for,
pitchers which is mind. Blowing if you follow this team
for any amount of, time you know you hear pitchers
SAYING i want to come the pitch for The Milwaukee
brewers because they know how to develop. Guys so when
you hear things like, that you know that The brewers
are doing things correctly behind the, scenes and you, know
(40:34):
kind of overcoming some of those financial shortcomings and disadvantages
that they have to fight year after. Years So Matt
arnold embraces. IT i think The brewers embrace it in.
General and who can argue with the success to this,
point you, Know and it's interesting how teams have gotten
it done over the. YEARS i, mean we know The
yankees and The Red sox and The dodgers and how
(40:56):
they get it. Done BUT i think everyone else is
on this plane, where for, example What houston did almost
a decade, ago blow it, up lose one hundred, games
three or four years in a, row and then all
of a, sudden if you've done your due diligence and
you have a good farm, system all of a, sudden
you're starting to compete For World series with a. Team
(41:18):
others have done. That Tampa bay has been tremendously. Resourceful
we saw in the past how The Florida marlins would
just get a year where they got a bunch of,
guys put them, together they win A World, series and
then blow the whole thing up in the next. Year
and you, KNOW i just wonder is that The brewers to,
me seem to be following more of That Tampa bay
type of. Thing they're not going to go all the
(41:40):
way down to the bottom and blow it up and
lose one hundred games three years in a, row but
they're going to be competitive year to. Year and that
might be harder to do because you, know it's not
quite like THE, nba where you're in the middle of this.
Thing you, finish you, know just outside the, lottery and
now you can't really improve yourself whole Lot but in
(42:00):
baseball you can do. This and it seems to me
that that's the formula they're. Following That Tampa bay, formula
would you, Agree, yeah one hundred. Percent AND i hate
to take it back to twenty twenty two and fans
will cringe when they hear this. Statement but more bites
of the Apple David stearns the infamous. Quote people don't
want to hear, it but it's one hundred percent. True
(42:21):
they have, seen you, know things can become toxic very
quickly if you go into a teardown like The Houston astros.
Did and a lot of people doubted whether The Houston
astros weever really going to be able to come back
from what they were going through because it was just
a brutal. Stretch now ultimately they, did we, know and
they become a really good. Franchise they want a world.
(42:43):
Series they've been involved in some controversies as, well but
the bottom line is they drafted, smartly they made good,
moves and they've they've bounced. Back that's not a, guarantee you,
know if you're going to do that teardown, model you've
got to be darn sure that you're gonna be able
to come out of. It on the other, side are for.
It The, brewers you, know to their, credit they they've
(43:04):
decided that you, KNOW i think ultimately there's going to
be a tear down year every now and. AGAIN i
think that has to happen over the course of. Time
it's kind of the natural cycle of. Things but they've
been able to stay consistent despite their disadvantages year after.
Year and what does it. Do it might frustrate the
fans a little bit that you, know, hey you know
(43:25):
we've won one playoff game since twenty, eighteen or you,
know whatever the, case whatever the argument is of the
of the, Day but as a, FAN i would think
that you would be excited and happy, that you, know
going into pretty much every year that your your, guys
if things fall the way they should and we can stay,
healthy are are going to be competitive and you're going
(43:47):
to be in the. Race and that's hard to, do
even for big market. Teams as we've, seen there's been
a lot of big market teams that have gone out
and spent a ton of money falling on their faces
and not been able to. Compete, so you, know The
brewers have taken to this. Philosophy they've decided they're. Good
they're going to avoid these these big, teardowns and you,
know multiple years of losing seasons and just try to remain,
(44:10):
competitive and they've been able to do, it and it's
it's really been, remarkable AND i think now we're finally
starting to see the rest of baseball kind of recognize.
That when you look at the numbers over the last
seven eight, years you, know The. Brewers the one stat
that really jumped out to me was of the last you,
know whatever it was four or five, years The BREWER
(44:32):
La dodgers have been in first place in their division
the most days in, Baseball brewers. Second you, know when
you start talking that kind of, air that REALLY i
think that drives home the point that The brewers have
been consistently. Competitive they've made the good they've made the
kind of the salient moves to to stay in that.
Position and, uh hat tip To Matt arnold in the front,
(44:54):
office everybody who makes those, decisions because it is not.
Speaker 4 (44:56):
Easy last one for, Me, Todd i'd be remiss IF
i didn't ask you About, yuke About Bob, Buker this
is obviously going to be a very it'll be a
bittersweet opening. Day i'm sure spring training had had a
very similar. Feel you got to know, HIM i think pretty,
well and wrote about it a couple of months. Ago
(45:18):
what did you what did you learn from? Him we all,
Laugh BUT i was able to even in my, ROLE
i was able to learn some things every. Day but
the energy he brought to the ballpark every. Day what
things will you remember and maybe learned from him in
your time getting to?
Speaker 1 (45:35):
KNOW i think more than, anything just kind of like
learn to embrace the moment and take a step. Back
because when Whenever yuke was at the, ballpark that was
it was like his life, blood, RIGHT i mean you
saw it the minute he'd walk in the clubost. Door
it's just it was like it energized, him you. Know
(45:55):
AND i don't think he ever forgot or ever took
for granted being at the ballpark on a day to day,
basis AND i, know speaking for me and being there every,
day it can become a. Grind let's be. Honest it
can become a. Grind are we Splitting adams or, Anything,
no absolutely, Not but it can become a. Grind and
(46:18):
just to think back To you've always had a smile
on his, face always something fun to talk, about joke to,
tell hokey in the, side whoever the case may. Be
he always made it fun to be around the. Ballpark
players flock to, him people flock to. Him it was
always fun and educational and entertaining to watch that kind of.
(46:40):
Transpire AND i, think if, Anything i'm going to try
to remember, that it's just always remember where you are
and always remember that you, know you're in a place
where you should be enjoying it and savoring it and
be appreciative of what you, have you, know more than,
ANYTHING i think that's WHAT i would say take away from.
(47:00):
It it's going to be hard from the standpoint of
just he. Was he was such a. Constant it was
like the sun rising in the east and setting in the.
West you knew every day you were going to See Bob.
Buker there always a smile on his, face something funny to,
say and if you were, lucky you, know you got
to chow them a little, better you, know he tell
(47:21):
you a funny story or something like. That and it's
going to be hard to hard to digest the fact
that that's not going to be around any. LONGER i,
feel really my heart goes out To Jeff, Levering Laye,
Grendel I'm matt, obviously you know all those guys, well you,
know the guys who worked with them on a day
(47:42):
but day to day, basis you, know they were like family.
Members and to to have to to let you go
and move, ON i know it is going to be incredibly.
Difficult and they've been so graceful and you, know getting
from what they had to enduring the off season to
now ever going to be. FORGOTTEN i Think Pat murphy said, it,
(48:02):
well you, Know yuke is always going to be around,
Us he's always going to be watching games from up,
above AND i think we just need to continue to remember.
That and but like, everything kind of life moves, on
and we're going to have to get used To Brewer
baseball without Hearing Bob buker on the radio. Anymore and
it's it's going to be. Jarring it's going to be a.
(48:23):
Challenge you, know AS i, Wrote i've never known anything
About Bob buker And Brewers baseball in my. Life this
is going to be the first time That i'm going
to endure. It AND i know a lot of people
are in the same boat as. Me so we just
have to do the best we can and try to
carry on and honor his. Legacy it, well Said todd well,
said and we'll all Miss. Bob AND i.
Speaker 3 (48:46):
Couldn't help WHEN i heard of his. Pants it couldn't
help but think, that you, know that's the one nothing's
forever in this. World BUT i was really Hoping Bob
buker would be the execution to the rule and of
me one hundred percent and fully expected that he. Would
but you're, right and we just all. Have AND i
remember crossing paths with him as far back as WHEN
i was filling in On cubs games back in the,
(49:08):
nineties AND i got to know him a little bit
better WHEN i came up To milwaukee and started doing
The packers. Games it would jump in and see him
every opening day for, sure and several times during the.
Season but, yeah, everybody we're all gonna miss, him especially as.
Listeners and he was so good up to the, End.
Matt you, know that's the thing about it is his last,
season some of his calls were just. Great they were you,
(49:30):
know he never really lost. ANYTHING i didn't.
Speaker 4 (49:33):
Think, no his his ability to make the big. Call
AND i always said about, him he could make a
bad game good and a good game. Legendary you, know
the stories that could go three or four innings when
it's ten to, one you, know you don't want to
get out of your car if you're driving around listener
or however you're listening to the. Game and his ability
(49:54):
to hit the big. Moments you, know some people say
those are. Easy, no not, always but his ability to
nail the call always.
Speaker 3 (50:04):
Was he.
Speaker 4 (50:05):
Was he was a teacher without even knowing it to
a lot of us broadcasters out there on how to
go about your.
Speaker 1 (50:12):
Craft, yeah AND i Think i'll leave you with. This you,
Know i'm sure you guys saw, it but we all
know what you meant To Brewers. BASEBALL i think maybe
the ultimate determiner of that was when we were in
spring training at the end Of february and The brewers
played The giants In. Scottsdale if you saw my interview
With Willia, damas and to See Willia, damas you, know
(50:36):
class guy one hundred percent all the. Way but to
See Willia damas like break down talking about. You you,
know after the, fact he's he's moved. On you, know
he's got his. Money not to say that that changes,
much but we all know in today's day and, age,
baseball professional, sports things move. Quickly people turn the. Page
(50:58):
and when you go from one franchise to, another IT'S
i think it's kind of human nature to all, right
Well i'm done with, that let's move on to the
next big. Thing but to see the Way Bob buker
impacted players across the, board you, know to See williadomas
really just kind of pour out his emotions and in
(51:18):
a foreign clubhouse and in front in front of people
that he doesn't, know just really spoke volumes to me
a of the class individual That. Williadomas's but be just
all the players and all the people That uke impacted
over the course of his. Life AND i bet you
could go back twenty, years thirty. Years there's probably guys
that we've long forgotten, about names that we have forgotten,
(51:41):
about who have stories About yuke and nice things That
yuke did for, them or whatever the case may. Be
that's just again just another small example the impact that
you had and what we're all going to be missing moving.
Forward it's that he's, truly truly, irreplaceable no doubt out about.
It hey can't thank you Enough Tad rosiek for taking
(52:03):
time out with. Us by the will be the third
or fifth inning of the opener that you invoked The
Tom hardycourt. Line when will this season ever? End it?
Will it will be after the first. Pitch that, Was
that's always been and that's that's the. Stick we always
do it in spring training and then once the regular season.
(52:23):
Starts SO i WILL i will let you guys know
too a little little inside. Baseball tom is coming. Back
he's going to be uh at the ballpark the second
day of not the home, opener BUT i. FORGET i
think It's. April is It april? First? Yeah, oh how
fitting is?
Speaker 4 (52:42):
That?
Speaker 1 (52:43):
Right april? First tom audreport back In, milwaukee and uh
he's going to be throwing out the first pitch On april,
second that third game against The, royals and, uh yours
truly is going to be catching. Him so should be fun.
Times but, yeah say that is that is an all
time favorite to go to AND i cannot wait to
(53:03):
type that out and send it out to the.
Speaker 4 (53:04):
World The prince Of darkness returns To.
Speaker 1 (53:08):
America Fataty.
Speaker 4 (53:09):
Bield i'm glad there's a roof because you know it will.
Speaker 3 (53:13):
Rain.
Speaker 4 (53:16):
No hardercourt is the. Best he's such a great, dude
So i'm sure he's enjoying enjoying. Retirement but, yeah it'll
be good to. SAY i just hope you have protective
gear BECAUSE i think he might bounce.
Speaker 1 (53:27):
It and the contrarius About bob. Borrowing h you, know
send Some catchers. Gear AND i was Telling, tom we don't,
want we, want we don't want to see a fifty
fifty cent you, know the ball going aplay or something like.
That you, Know i'm prepared for. Anything big Mit catcher's.
Gear let's.
Speaker 3 (53:42):
Go he got, It, so thank you so. Much thanks,
guys appreciate. It that does it for us this time
special thanks to our Guest Tad, rosiek beat reporter on
The brewers for The Milwaukee Journal. Sentinel our engineer producer
Is dave Mccainn our executive Produce sir Is Jeff. Tyler For,
matt this Is. Wayne thank you very much for listening
(54:04):
to the lay of The la pay.
Speaker 2 (54:05):
Podcast The lrevi La pey podcast is a production Of
iHeartRadio podcasts with Hosts Way larovy And Matt, lapey with
production engineering By dave. McCann The Lreovie La pey podcast
is presented BY Uw Credit. Union here for every you
listen to other episodes available on The iHeartRadio, App Apple,
(54:27):
podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite.
Speaker 3 (54:29):
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