June 13, 2024 • 36 mins
On this week’s edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob discusses why he believes Aaron Judge is already the most prolific home run hitter in MLB history, the Cardinals fans giving Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes a standing ovation in St Louis and the Los Angeles Dodgers uneven first half of the season. Plus, Minnesota Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton swings by to discuss why he loves playing the position so much. Later, Erik Boland from Newsday checks in to discuss Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and the New York Yankees. Finally, we’ve got appearances by MLBBro.com managing editor JR Gamble, analytics guru Anthony Masterson and gambling expert David Gascon.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
From the Berkshars to the sound from wherever you live
in MLB America. This is Inside the Parker. You give
us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop
on Major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame
voter number seveny Rob Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker. What
a show we have for you today. We know that
the barbannt Buston is back for the Minnesota Twins and
swinging the bat, but he loves the play center field.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
We'll talk to him about that.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Also, Eric Bolan, he covers the New York Yankees for
news Day, and the Bronx Bombers are streaking.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
We'll get the details of why they're so hot.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Let's go better to lead off it's getting robbed and
keep them on. Rob's hot take on the three biggest
stories in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Number one, Aaron Judge is having been a season to remember,
My goodness, gracious.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
After the slow start in.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
April, he was kind of banged up in spring training,
got off to a really slow start, but after hitting
a home run on Tuesday night against the Royals, that's
his twenty fifth of the season. Coming into Thursday's matinee
in Kansas City, Aaron Judge officially became MLB's all time
(01:24):
leader in games per home run. His rates three point
two zero games per home run is now point oh
three games better than Babe Bruce and point oh seven
better than Barry Bonds. I mean, think about what we're
talking about. I think he's the most prolific home run
hitter we've seen.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Obviously, not the greatest.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
He's got a long way to go, and he's got
to put up way more numbers, but as far as
delivering a home run and the amount of games, it's
been incredible.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And Aaron Judge, let's think about this.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
It was seven years ago I did a video for
FS one and they asked me for my top five sluggers.
Some people were mad because I didn't have May's or
Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth or Ken Griffy Junior in
the list. It was my list, and it wasn't a
list that you're just gonna take the top five home
(02:16):
run totals and call those the best. Otherwise, what list
is that? That's just listing the obvious, stating the obvious.
But in my list, I had Aaron Judge as my
number five slugger, And think about that seven years ago. Really, yes,
I did. I saw the talent. I thought, this guy
is a tremendous his body type, his swing, the ballpark
(02:39):
he plays in in the Bronx. Then I called the
Bronx Bombers for nothing, but my goodness, Aaron Judge, what
a season. I think he's gonna hit more than sixty two.
He's got twenty five. We still have another what six,
another four weeks before the All Star Game? Another month.
He can get to thirty two or seven more in
(03:03):
a month. I think he can. Aaron Judge tremendous home
run hitter. I'm calling him the most prolific home run hitter.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Ever number two.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
All right, I'm.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Pushing back on some baseball etiquette I am, and no,
I'm not pulling the pirates phenom. Paul Skeins. He's tremendous.
Put on another show. Tuesday night. He threw a career
high one hundred and three pitches over six in the
third innings in shutting out the Cardinals, right and his
performance was electric, so much so that when he got
(03:38):
pulled in the seventh, he got a standing ovation from
the fans in Saint Louis time out. I'm out, sorry, No,
what are the Cardinal fans doing? He didn't pitch a
no no or had a no hitter going into the night.
That's when you tip your cap to a guy and say, man,
what a performance that was? He was a but really
(04:01):
six and the third you're giving a visiting a player
a standing ovation. Nah, I don't buy it. I don't
think that that's right. I'm surprised. I call Saint Louis
the baseball capital of the United States, and it is.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
They draw a.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Three million fans every year, win loser, draw. They've run
two football teams out of Saint Louis. What does that
tell you about All they care about is the Cardinals
and the Blues, nothing else. And if you go to
a Saint Louis Cardinals game, everybody has read on that's
how much they're into the Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
But cheering an opponent who pitched six and a.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Third shutout innings, not no hit innings, shutout innings is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Number Three.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
In no way am I crying wolf about the Los
Angeles Dodgers. Before the season started, I picked the Yankees
and Dodgers in the World Series.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
The Dodgers are loaded, they have a great team.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I expect them to get it righted and be the
best team in the National League, although the Phillies are
really tough. Coming into Thursday, the Phillies had the best
record in Baseball forty six and twenty one, Dodgers forty
two and twenty seven. That's in the National League, and
the Yankees are.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
At forty nine. Oh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
The Yankees have the best record forty nine and twenty one.
The Phillies have the best record in the National League
at forty six and twenty one. But my point is
the Dodgers, who took two of the first three games
in that series against the Yankees, and that was impressive
because they have been scuffling.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
But they've scuffled for more than a month.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
They're just okay. It doesn't seem like they're fluid, like
they're in a groove. Forty two and twenty seven is
nothing to be mad about, and they have a six
and a half game lead over the Padres coming into Thursday.
But there's something missing, something that just doesn't feel right yet,
and I can't put my finger on it. But they
they they're not rolling like the Phillies. They're not rolling
(06:08):
like the Yankees. They should be playing. If you remember
that with the way they came out of the box,
they looked like they were gonna score eight runs every night.
I mean, it was just hitting everywhere. And obviously, you
know it's hard to continue that. Mookie Bets and show
hal Tani and uh, you know those guys, and and
(06:29):
Freddie Freeman.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
You know, they can't all hit three forty all year.
So I get that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
But if I'm looking at it right now, the Dodgers
are definitely not one of the two best teams in baseball.
They're definitely behind the Phillies.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
And it's gonna be interesting how this plays out because
the Phillies have started poorly the first the first part
of the last two years and made the World Series
and had a chance last year before being upset.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
And it'll be interesting to see the Dodgers the last two.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Years have had great regular seasons that have been knocked
out in the first round, so this will be interested.
I'm still gonna stick with my pick the Yankees and Dodgers,
But the Dodgers gotta get get, gotta get it going.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Here comes the big interview, Listen and learn.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
All right, now, let's welcome into the podcast Twins Center
Field of Byron Buxton. Byron, thanks for joining.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Us, Yes, sir, no problem, appreciate it. Byron.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
The Twins guys had a great playoff push last year.
Run so far the season. I know you guys have
had injuries, but what are the expectations on this team?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Scott's the limit? You know, we got a great group
of guys in here that you know, the only thing
we care about is winning, and it's not about the
individual accolades or you know what each person is trying
to do individually. Everybody's here for one job and that's
to win a ring. So you know, coming in every day,
everybody's on a mission and putting in that work to
(08:05):
get better.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Talk about your season.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Last year you were DH exclusively get yourself healthy, and
this year you're back out in center field.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
What is that like?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
That's your position and I'm sure you enjoy playing the
field more so than just DH.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
And what's the.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Difference difference is I'm still young and centerfield is a
position that is very unique and for me, it separates
me mentally from what I'm doing offensively, and you know,
even when you have their struggles defensively, you can go
out there and make plays and help the team out
(08:41):
and feel like you're contributing in different ways rather than
you know, DH and feeling like you got four or
five opportunities at the plate to make a difference. So
for me, it's all about the mental aspect of just
giving me a little bit more freedom to just go
out there and play the game.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I've heard from other guys about th h and is
a mentality when you're not a part of the game.
It's like it could feel like four inch hits, four
pinch of at bats. Did did you feel like that
last year? Did it feel like you were a part
of the game, Because even though when you weren't going
out in the.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Field, yeah, you're still a part of the game obviously,
but it's still a difference when you have that one
thing taken away from you that you really love to do.
So that put it in a little bit more perspective
of you know, go out here every day and don't
regret it, be greatful for the opportunity and just be
(09:41):
blessed that, you know, I'm able to put this Jersey.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Only go out there and do what I.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Do well with Byron Bucks and Twins center fielder, join
us here on inside the Parker. If you could pick
one or the other, hitting a walk off three run
home run or snatching the ball back to save a
game in center field to win the game, which one
would you pick?
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Probably snatching the ball Defensively, That's something I just grew
up on when I was little. My dad was always
defensive win championships, and it's just something that it's hard
on me, you know, So me defensively being able to
make plays behind the guys, and that also changes momentum
(10:26):
of the game. So being able to do things like
that is uh, something that I love to do.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
How about the study of other center fielders who first?
Who was your favorite player growing.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Up playing nfield?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Growing up?
Speaker 5 (10:40):
I like Tripper Jones being from Georgia.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
It makes sense Tripper Jones with the Braves and the
Hall of Famer.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
But once I realized about outfield, I watched Andrew Jones,
Tory Hunter.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Uh, it's real.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Those are just a few of the guys that I
started watching when I first converted over to being an outfielder,
and there was more about what you had to do.
It wasn't about anybody can go out there run and
catch a ball, but it was about the first step,
the quickness, the reads, like how precise you gotta be,
(11:20):
just the little bitty things that you gotta do right.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
How about the greatest center field of all time?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Was that?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Is it a historical I.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Mean there's so many great guys, obviously Willie Mays a junior,
I mean, Ricky Henderson. I mean it's just a ton.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
Yeah, that's a that's a good one. I never really
thought about it. For me, it'd probably be griffy though.
I just love remember being I'm alrightys, but being in
the yard, I used to try to imitate him as
a right handed hitter, and it's just something that you
couldn't do, you know. That's how unique he was and
how much fun he was for the game.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
And I think that's true for a lot of people.
The left handed swing. I'm right handed too, but the
left handed swing, to me, is the most beautiful swing
in baseball.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
It just is. They're great right handed hitters, we know that,
But would you say.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
Yeah, you know, obviously, it's a lot of left swings
that I like so it's hard to pick pick just one.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
For sure, one I always remembered I grew up in
New York. Darryl Strawberry's left handed swing.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
Oh yeah, with the Mets. I watched him a little
bit as well. I got to meet him a couple
of times. So yeah, that was he had a sweet.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Swing, no doubt. Last thing, twins. Obviously, you guys have
expectation to be in the postseason, but the division is tougher.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Al Central was considered weak for a while.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
You got the Tigers are playing better, Kansas City's playing better,
and obviously the Guardians are playing better. Is this gonna
be a dogfight? You think for most of the season
or all season?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
For sure?
Speaker 5 (13:02):
You know every day is not a given day. So
you gotta come out here and compete in battle and
do what you gotta do to get a win across
that board. So, like I said, that's what makes this team,
uh bonding chemistry very unique because the only thing we
care about is winning.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
All right, Byron, Thank you, Ma man, appreciate it, sir,
thank you that ball.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
It was a big week in the big leagues.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Who who's a believe.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Is it foul or is it fair? And now from
mlbdbro dot com. Here's Jr.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Gamble in a pole released by The Athletic on Monday.
Players in baseball didn't even vote for Aaron Judge as
a top two player in the game. He was tied
for third with Mookie Betts, behind show Hail Tani and
Ronald o'coon Junior Jr. Is it foul or faul foul?
Speaker 1 (14:05):
That is a foul ball? Come on, guys.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Aaron Judge leads the league in homers with twenty five
and that changes nightly. RBI was sixty two. He's slugging
over seven hundred and has an ops of one point
one four nine, and he's getting on base almost forty
four percent of the time because he also leads the
league in walks. Don't get me wrong, show Hey Otani
(14:31):
is having a great year at the plate in his
first year with the Dodgers sixteen home runs, forty three RBI,
but he's not the hitter Judge is, and without the
pitching that made him a unicorn, no way you can
put him over Judge. Ronald Acunya was spectacular last season,
but he's only been able to muster two of those
superstar seasons. Last year's forty homer seventy steals is nothing
(14:56):
to sneeze at, but Judge puts up Hank, Aaron and
Willie May's numbers with more power. He's truly a generational player.
Mookie Betts is definitely in contention for best all around player,
and his ability to play shortstop and second base, as
well as his gold Glove in the outfield makes him
(15:17):
one of one in MLB and a perennial contender for MVP.
But Judge, however's on another planet and this ain't nothing new,
no way. He's behind one, two, or three other players
as the best player in MLB.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
He broke the homer record as a rookie.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
He broke the ale single season record two seasons ago
as MVP, and he continues to rake for the best
team in baseball. There's no better player than Judge right now.
The players and the athletic need to stop Hayton.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Turn money into more money. Now it's time for betting
on the basis with Dave Gascott.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
Love that money, Love that money.
Speaker 7 (15:55):
Hey, Rob Brand New weekn of Baseball happen to be
here with you. Luis Gill and the New York Game
Keys make their way to Fenway Park on Friday Night,
they get the Red Sox, where he kindling their rivalry.
Yanks have been playing great ball this season. Red Sox
are floundering around middle of the pack and five hundred
Luis Gal eating one so far the season with a
two point zero four ERA. I will take the Yankees
(16:17):
and Aaron Judge hopefully the charge to get things done
in Boston. Meanwhile, slippery slope between the Braves and the Rays.
Tampa Bay's not pitched well so far this season. A
lot of Braves. They aren't hitting well right now, at
least to with the Counya being done for the season.
Zach Lettel versus Chris Sell in this pitching matchup sales
so far, eating two of the three oh one ERA.
(16:38):
I'll take a line at home over Tampa Bay. Different
scene in LA Dodgers and Royals. I'm gonna take Gavin
Stone seven and two so far with an ERA at
two ninety three against Kansas City. Guessy has been good
so far here at the Central thirty nine twenty nine
middle of the week so far, but sub five hundred
on the road. I will take La to get.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
The w.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
It's time for the pocket protector centrum, the analytic numbers
you need to know.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name, BS analytics is
his game.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
What do you got for me, Anthony?
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Baseball is a funny game.
Speaker 8 (17:17):
You take a round ball with a round bat and
try to hit it square, square of course being the
operative word.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
There.
Speaker 8 (17:22):
You hear broadcasters say he squared that one up all
the time, But what does that actually mean? With stat
cast New battracking metrics, we have an answer. Stat cast
New squared up metric shows how hitters and pitchers find
and stay away from the sweet spot, respectively. A squared
up batted ball is one that achieves eighty percent of
(17:43):
his potential exit velocity with contact on the sweet spot
of the bat. Now why is that important? Well, a
squared up swing has an average of three sixty nine
and a fifty seven percent hard hit rate, compared to
a two oh three average and zero point three percent
hard hit rate on a non squared up swing. Now,
the guys at the top of the squared up swing
(18:04):
list this year not a huge shock. It's Luisa Rise
and Mookie Betts. But for pitchers it's not just about
chasing strikeouts. Many hurlers claim they're going after week contact
instead and staying off the sweet spot is how you
do that. The kings of weak contact so far this
year amongst starters are the Orioles Kyle Bradish and the
Nationals Mackenzie Gore at just over seventeen percent, but former
(18:27):
All Star Framber Valdez is on the other end with
a whopping thirty six percent squared up rate this year.
So next time you hear a broadcaster are talking about
squaring a ball up, now, hopefully you'll have some context.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
It's the Gambler here, vice president of operations for mlbbro
dot Com and executive producer of the MLB bro Show podcast.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
It's the Mixtape. Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Every Friday we bring you the best from the world
of Black and Brown baseball. We covered the seven point
two percent of melanated Major leaguers from soup to nuts,
but with our own cultural flair and unique voice, will
take you on a ride reflecting on the accomplishment, clutch moments,
and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe
(19:18):
into baseball.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie Betts.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Doctor K to Doctor Styx, from bro Bombs to stolen
bases to black Aces. We're live at the ballparks and
also bringing you segments like Classic Hits with David Gruff,
the Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the walk Off, and
Going Deep, just the name a few of the segments
that truly capture the voice of black baseball. If things
(19:45):
get out of hand, is the Boss, Rob Parker, He's
kicking up dust. We will gladly pay you on Tuesday
from an MLB bro doubleheader today. Remember the heart of
the game lies in the diversity of the game and
the spirit of black baseball that dates back to.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
The Negro leagues.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
I the Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, making sure
that you stay on top of the game and in
touch with.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
The soul of MLB.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Fuckle up for a wild baseball journey, showing respect to
the Ogs and highlighting the new breed of melanated malt moroders.
First thing through MLB's pipeline, all pitching with the sound
of Black Baseball. We got the best starting five in
the business. Listen to the MLB Bro Show podcast the
Mixtape on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you
(20:37):
get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this model.
If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer
or broadcaster, old or new.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Now, let's welcome into the podcast one of the best
baseball writers in the country. His name is Eric poland
he covers the Yankees for Newsday and E What's Up?
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Thanks for joining me.
Speaker 9 (21:02):
Rob Parker, who was a treat to have you reach
out to me and has always glad to glad to
talk to you.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Well, let's do this as always.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yankees, My god, they're Roland, I mean, putting up runs,
pitching lights out.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I mean, this is this team is fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Eric, just talk about first the Yankees and where they are,
the best record in the American League, and it's it
is a fun watch, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
You know.
Speaker 9 (21:29):
Look, I mean this is my sixteenth year Rob covering
the Yankees, and I've seen all kinds of seasons. My
first year with two thousand and nine their last World
Series team, and obviously that was the end of the
Mariano and Jeter and Petta and that whole group. And
you've seen, you know, various iterations of the Yankees then,
(21:51):
and they really bottomed out, as you know last year
with the eighty two and eighty and their offense just
a disaster. And it wasn't great when Aaron Judge got
hurt in Los Angeles when he uh, you know, suffered
the tow injury running into the bullpen fence at at
Dodger Stadium. That a lot of people, you know, focus
(22:12):
on that, and it probably did cost them a playoff spot,
but in reality that their offense was really inconsistent. Uh,
even when Judge was healthy. Uh, they completely uh refurbished
if you will, their lineup, and you start with Juan
Soto and the.
Speaker 6 (22:30):
Impact that he's had.
Speaker 9 (22:32):
Alex Verdugo certainly has been a good addition as well,
both at the plate and in the field. But you know,
they really do have right now even when you know
you're never gonna.
Speaker 6 (22:41):
Have all nine guys going at once.
Speaker 9 (22:43):
You you watched baseball, covered baseball a long time, rob
you know that, But uh, they really are you know,
teams always talk about, oh, you know, one one for nine,
we're dangerous type of thing, and most of the time
it's not true.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Uh, it's true.
Speaker 9 (22:57):
With the Yankees, it certainly has been this point, and
we haven't even talked about the fact that on top
of the offensive numbers that they put up, oh, by
the way, they also have the best are one of
the best pitching staffs in the game.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
That was the other thing that I looked at.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I don't know where it is today, Eric, so I'm guessing,
but at one point I looked a few days ago
and the.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Team E r Ray was two nine to two.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
And that's what ol, Garrett Cole, I mean, that's an
incredible number in today's baseball.
Speaker 9 (23:30):
It is Robin And what's what's interesting about that is
that I can tell you, regardless of what they said publicly,
when when Cole went down midway three spring training with
the album inflammation, organizationally they were petrified what that was
going to mean. Hey, they really didn't know, regardless of
some of the really bad reporting that was out there
(23:50):
saying that, you know, oh you know, the yanky to breathe,
sigh of relief that the surgery is not needed, et cetera,
and maybe you'll be.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Back in a month something like that.
Speaker 9 (24:00):
And there was relief certainly that there was no season
and Tommy John on the table. Uh, But they were
scared at what they were gonna get because they really,
you know, Stroman came in with questions Rodan's coming off
such a bad year a yeear ago. Bark Schmidt had
only had one full season as a starter in the
(24:20):
big leagues, and he was up and down as you
might expect a first year starter would be. But but
you just don't know what you're gonna get. And not
only have they survived without Pole, they've thrived, and the
numbers back that up. And uh, and it hasn't just
been Luis Heel who is in contention certainly to to
not only make the All Star team, but to start
(24:42):
that game for the American League with with the type
of year that that he's off to And I can
tell you they had no way, shape or form expected
this kind of performance out of heat Heel. But you know,
Strowman's been really good. Before Schmid got hurt, he had
been really good. Nester Courtz has probably has been quote
the worst.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
Of the bunch.
Speaker 9 (25:00):
Shan his era is you know what three three eight
or three four, whatever it is. And you just go
down the list of guys that have performed and again
done far more than just tread water and that's just
a that's a deadly, deadly combination, and to especially accomplish
that in the Al East, which is always a gauntlet.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
As you know.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Our guest is Eric Bolan. He covers the Yankees for
Newsday in New York. I want to get to Heal,
who's twenty six years old. I watched some of his
early starts. He was kind of wild all over the place.
But man, as he put together with a season eight
and one an ERA of two point zero four. This
is all coming into Thursday, ninety strikeouts, a whip zero
(25:44):
point nine three.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
What is it about him? Has stuff? I know he's
got great stuff, but how has he matured into this?
Speaker 6 (25:52):
Well, it's funny, Rob.
Speaker 9 (25:54):
I remember talking to Derek Cole about this right at
the end of spring training and when when heel got
that fifth starter job. And trust me, the Yankees they
sent him to the minor league camp right at the
beginning of March because they thought that we're going to
store this guy away in the minor leagues and he
can be rotation and death for us at some point.
(26:16):
But what happened was is when there was some injuries
that occurred, they brought him back to Big league camp
from minor league camp, and he had a start in Clearwater.
I think it was March sixteen, maybe it was a
little bit before that against the Phillies a lineup in Clearwater,
and he struck out eight guys in three and two
thirds innings, and Harper was one of them. In Balm
(26:38):
and you go down, all the top guys struck out
against him, And I remember talking to Rob Thompson and
Kevin Long separately after that, the manager and hitting coach,
and they said that that was some of the best
stuff they had ever seen in a string training outing.
He really and his next two starts after that, while
not quite as electric, were still really good. And he
(27:00):
basically and Aaron Buona said, this kicked the door down
to the rotation. It was not their intent, but he
was so good and so electric. They said, you know what,
And to their credit, and I'm more than happy to
criticize the Yankees organization and have over the years on
certain things, but to their credit, they said, you know what,
we didn't expect this, but we're going.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
To ride this.
Speaker 6 (27:19):
We're going to see what happens.
Speaker 9 (27:20):
Because his stuff was so good at the end of
the spring, and he's just turried that into the regular season.
But one of the things that when I asked him
about Heal, I go, you know, what do you got
on this guy? He said, what's really impressive about him
is that he can come out growing ninety seven, ninety eight,
and then you come back to him in the fifth
or sixth inning and he's still throwing it at that velocity.
(27:42):
And he said, when you look at hard throwing starters
in this league, there's very few of us and poles
in this category, very few of us who can sustain
that kind of velocity from the first inning all the
way through. You know, pitch eighty, pitch ninety, pitch one hundred,
and you've seen that with Heel, and then you throw in,
you know, a plus change up, plus slider. He's got
(28:04):
three plus pitches that he's comfortable throwing at any time,
in any count. And another thing that Cole said is
this kid learns he will something won't go right in
one start and then five days later he'll correct it,
or even in game he's able to correct it. And
the two things that stood out the most to Cole
(28:26):
about Heel was how he could sustain the velocity and
his aptitude as just a pitcher and as a craftsman,
and that's something that the Cole always talks about, the craft.
Speaker 6 (28:38):
You marry those two things and this is the result
that you get.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Amazing. It really is amazing to watch.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Earlier in the podcast, I talked about Aaron Judge, so
I'm not going to even approach that with you. He's
having an unbelievable season. But two other people quickly I
want to ask you about. One is Wan Soto, who.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
I wasn't sure if you would ever have to turn
intown four hundred and forty million dollars guaranteed whatever. I'll
approach that again, especially the way things win in San
Diego comes to the Bronx, embraces the plan for the
Yankees and the fans and everything, and it's having a
tremendous season. And now people are pretty convinced he's going
to get at least five hundred million dollars.
Speaker 9 (29:22):
Oh, I'm convinced of that too. I mean, now that
the covey out to that Robin Again, you've covered the
sport a long time. Is that there's only a small
handful of teams right who are willing And I won't
say can afford, I would say is willing to because
I never buy the prize of property that you get,
so somebody bagically baseball owners. But there's only a small
(29:42):
handful of teams that are willing to outlay that kind
of financial commitment, both in terms of dollars in years
for this type of free agent, and the Yankees obviously
are one of them, but also the Mets are are
one as well. And if Steve Gohan really really wants him,
I can tell you that that Scott Boris on soda,
the agent is salivating at the possibility of an intra
(30:04):
New York fitting war for one of the best free
agents to come in the market in a very very
long time. Probably, you know, maybe maybe ever certainly brought
Bryce Harper would be in that category, But yeah, I
think it'll be north of five hundred, and depending on
how the rest of the season goes, Brisoto, you know,
(30:25):
I could easily see it being some kind of a
six hundred plus package as well. I mean, I hate to,
you know, and Boris doesn't mean need me to do
his job for him. He Scott got can handle this
stuff on his own. But I hate the cliche, but
I do think that if the season finishes the way
that it started for Soda, the sky certainly will be
(30:47):
the limit.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Last thing, g and Carlos then, I mean, thirty four
got criticized by the general manager in the offseason, and
all this guy's done is hit seventeen.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
Home runs in sixty one games.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
And the shots he's hitting, the one last night in
Kansas City was ridiculous, four hundred and forty nine feet.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
What's happened here? Is he just finally healthy?
Speaker 9 (31:14):
Yeah, I mean that has a lot to do with it,
Rob And you know, I think that that people forget
that this is a guy that his first eight years
in Miami he's a a damn good player. And it's
not just at the plate, but in the field he
was he was a solid right fielder as well. And
you know, injuries from the time really he had a
healthy first season with the Yankees and then really had
(31:37):
not had a healthy full season after that. And if
you look at his numbers from his first year with
the Yankees back in twenty and eighteen, it was pretty
you know, it's pretty good. So certainly, obviously, as you know,
players is one they get north of thirty two to
thirty three generally don't get better. But John Carlow, who
has always been among the best physical, full conditioned players
(32:02):
certainly that I've covered in my time with the Yankees.
I mean, his body fat, I think is you know,
for the length of his career has been a negative,
but he's still even being in that great condition. Decided
this offseason that maybe he needs to lose some muscle,
and maybe he needs to become a little bit more agile.
Speaker 6 (32:20):
And he's been a.
Speaker 9 (32:20):
Little bit cagy on a lot of the things that
he did in the off season. But when he showed
up in spring training in Tampa with the Yankees, he
looked like he had not looked like he had completely
transformed his body. He shed at least twenty pounds of muscle,
and an already chiseled Phusique appeared even more so because
(32:41):
he had just shed a lot of the muscle that
he had built over the years with weight training, et cetera.
Speaker 6 (32:46):
And I really believe that had helped him stay on
the field this year.
Speaker 9 (32:51):
And with John Carlow, you know, it really has not
been a question of whether he able to hit major
league pitching or not. It's been staying healthy and all
sorts of lower body injuries that have plagued him over
the years, and part of dropping the weight mask the
muscle mask was to avoid those lot of lower body
injuries and it certainly has been successful to this point.
(33:14):
And then of course, you know, you have the protection
of Judge and Soto and what bold he has done
at the at the top of the order, and you
can't under sell the kind of impact that that he
has had. But you know, John Carlo is kind of
able to just sort of lay back and you know,
he's hit as low as you know, sixth in the lineup.
Speaker 6 (33:35):
And even at the beginning of the season, I think he.
Speaker 9 (33:36):
Might have managed seventh the once or twice and you know,
pitchers eventually they got a pitched to somebody. And Angehan
Carlow has you know, feasted at times. He's a streaky hitter.
We all know that he's always been that. Even in
his fifty nine home run MVP season and then Glance
here with Miami, he was, you know, streaky at times.
(33:57):
But uh, you know, his because he's been able to
stay on the field. You know, I think that he's
been able to make the bad stretches last a little
bit shorter and again the opposing pictures. You can't you
can't pitch around everybody, and he's taking advantage of that.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
His name is Eric Bolan, one of the best in
the business from Newsday covers the Yankees. My friend, thank you.
I'll see you down the road at the ballpark.
Speaker 9 (34:23):
Rob. I look forward to it, and I know I've
texted you this over the years, but the congratulations on
all the successes that you've had with all of your endeavors,
there always seems to be every six months to twelve
months a new one that you're you're rolling out and
I could not be happier for you.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Thank you, Eric, man, I appreciate that with for real.
Speaker 6 (34:43):
Stay well you too, my friend, Tuck you soon.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
Now bring in the closer right. Here's why MLB is
better than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Reason number five hundred and fifty five wire Major League
Baseball it was better than the NBA and better than
the NFL is simple. And it takes place next Thursday
down in Birmingham, Alabama, as Major League Baseball celebrates the
Negro Leagues. I mean, are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (35:18):
What a game?
Speaker 2 (35:19):
The Cardinals and the Giants will square off in an
intimate setting of about eight thousand seats nine thousand macs
to watch a Major League Baseball game at Rickwood Stadium,
which is the oldest ballpark in the United States, over
one hundred somei years old.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
It's where the Negro Leagues played.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Willie Mays, who's ninety three years old, who played in
the Negro Leagues and played for the Birmingham Parons, hopefully
will be in attendance. But that's what baseball does well.
It sells its past. Its game is rich in history
and tradition, and you can turn the clocks back. We
saw the game in Iowa and the Cornfield I mean
(36:06):
the Field of Dreams game that gave you goosebumps. You
remember that with the walk off and Tim Anderson and
what that is all about, playing in those intimate ballparks,
and the same thing here at Rickwood. I will be
down there for mlbbro dot Com covering the event.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
Can't wait.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
But that's something that baseball does real well. It celebrates
its past, and the other sports they just don't do it.
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until
next time, Rob Parker out d can't Gavin, This could
(36:47):
be an inside the Parker.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
See you next week, same bat time, from same Matt station.
From the Berkshars to the sound from wherever you live
in MLB America. This is Inside the Parker. You give
us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop
on Major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame
voter number seveny Rob Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker. What
a show we have for you today. We know that
the barbannt Buston is back for the Minnesota Twins and
swinging the bat, but he loves the play center field.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
We'll talk to him about that.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Also, Eric Bolan, he covers the New York Yankees for
news Day, and the Bronx Bombers are streaking.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
We'll get the details of why they're so hot.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Let's go better to lead off it's getting robbed and
keep them on. Rob's hot take on the three biggest
stories in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Number one, Aaron Judge is having been a season to remember,
My goodness, gracious.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
After the slow start in.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
April, he was kind of banged up in spring training,
got off to a really slow start, but after hitting
a home run on Tuesday night against the Royals, that's
his twenty fifth of the season. Coming into Thursday's matinee
in Kansas City, Aaron Judge officially became MLB's all time
(01:24):
leader in games per home run. His rates three point
two zero games per home run is now point oh
three games better than Babe Bruce and point oh seven
better than Barry Bonds. I mean, think about what we're
talking about. I think he's the most prolific home run
hitter we've seen.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Obviously, not the greatest.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
He's got a long way to go, and he's got
to put up way more numbers, but as far as
delivering a home run and the amount of games, it's
been incredible.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And Aaron Judge, let's think about this.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
It was seven years ago I did a video for
FS one and they asked me for my top five sluggers.
Some people were mad because I didn't have May's or
Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth or Ken Griffy Junior in
the list. It was my list, and it wasn't a
list that you're just gonna take the top five home
(02:16):
run totals and call those the best. Otherwise, what list
is that? That's just listing the obvious, stating the obvious.
But in my list, I had Aaron Judge as my
number five slugger, And think about that seven years ago. Really, yes,
I did. I saw the talent. I thought, this guy
is a tremendous his body type, his swing, the ballpark
(02:39):
he plays in in the Bronx. Then I called the
Bronx Bombers for nothing, but my goodness, Aaron Judge, what
a season. I think he's gonna hit more than sixty two.
He's got twenty five. We still have another what six,
another four weeks before the All Star Game? Another month.
He can get to thirty two or seven more in
(03:03):
a month. I think he can. Aaron Judge tremendous home
run hitter. I'm calling him the most prolific home run hitter.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Ever number two.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
All right, I'm.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Pushing back on some baseball etiquette I am, and no,
I'm not pulling the pirates phenom. Paul Skeins. He's tremendous.
Put on another show. Tuesday night. He threw a career
high one hundred and three pitches over six in the
third innings in shutting out the Cardinals, right and his
performance was electric, so much so that when he got
(03:38):
pulled in the seventh, he got a standing ovation from
the fans in Saint Louis time out. I'm out, sorry, No,
what are the Cardinal fans doing? He didn't pitch a
no no or had a no hitter going into the night.
That's when you tip your cap to a guy and say, man,
what a performance that was? He was a but really
(04:01):
six and the third you're giving a visiting a player
a standing ovation. Nah, I don't buy it. I don't
think that that's right. I'm surprised. I call Saint Louis
the baseball capital of the United States, and it is.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
They draw a.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Three million fans every year, win loser, draw. They've run
two football teams out of Saint Louis. What does that
tell you about All they care about is the Cardinals
and the Blues, nothing else. And if you go to
a Saint Louis Cardinals game, everybody has read on that's
how much they're into the Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
But cheering an opponent who pitched six and a.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Third shutout innings, not no hit innings, shutout innings is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Number Three.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
In no way am I crying wolf about the Los
Angeles Dodgers. Before the season started, I picked the Yankees
and Dodgers in the World Series.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
The Dodgers are loaded, they have a great team.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I expect them to get it righted and be the
best team in the National League, although the Phillies are
really tough. Coming into Thursday, the Phillies had the best
record in Baseball forty six and twenty one, Dodgers forty
two and twenty seven. That's in the National League, and
the Yankees are.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
At forty nine. Oh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
The Yankees have the best record forty nine and twenty one.
The Phillies have the best record in the National League
at forty six and twenty one. But my point is
the Dodgers, who took two of the first three games
in that series against the Yankees, and that was impressive
because they have been scuffling.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
But they've scuffled for more than a month.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
They're just okay. It doesn't seem like they're fluid, like
they're in a groove. Forty two and twenty seven is
nothing to be mad about, and they have a six
and a half game lead over the Padres coming into Thursday.
But there's something missing, something that just doesn't feel right yet,
and I can't put my finger on it. But they
they they're not rolling like the Phillies. They're not rolling
(06:08):
like the Yankees. They should be playing. If you remember
that with the way they came out of the box,
they looked like they were gonna score eight runs every night.
I mean, it was just hitting everywhere. And obviously, you
know it's hard to continue that. Mookie Bets and show
hal Tani and uh, you know those guys, and and
(06:29):
Freddie Freeman.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
You know, they can't all hit three forty all year.
So I get that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
But if I'm looking at it right now, the Dodgers
are definitely not one of the two best teams in baseball.
They're definitely behind the Phillies.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
And it's gonna be interesting how this plays out because
the Phillies have started poorly the first the first part
of the last two years and made the World Series
and had a chance last year before being upset.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
And it'll be interesting to see the Dodgers the last two.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Years have had great regular seasons that have been knocked
out in the first round, so this will be interested.
I'm still gonna stick with my pick the Yankees and Dodgers,
But the Dodgers gotta get get, gotta get it going.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Here comes the big interview, Listen and learn.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
All right, now, let's welcome into the podcast Twins Center
Field of Byron Buxton. Byron, thanks for joining.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Us, Yes, sir, no problem, appreciate it. Byron.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
The Twins guys had a great playoff push last year.
Run so far the season. I know you guys have
had injuries, but what are the expectations on this team?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Scott's the limit? You know, we got a great group
of guys in here that you know, the only thing
we care about is winning, and it's not about the
individual accolades or you know what each person is trying
to do individually. Everybody's here for one job and that's
to win a ring. So you know, coming in every day,
everybody's on a mission and putting in that work to
(08:05):
get better.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Talk about your season.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Last year you were DH exclusively get yourself healthy, and
this year you're back out in center field.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
What is that like?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
That's your position and I'm sure you enjoy playing the
field more so than just DH.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
And what's the.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Difference difference is I'm still young and centerfield is a
position that is very unique and for me, it separates
me mentally from what I'm doing offensively, and you know,
even when you have their struggles defensively, you can go
out there and make plays and help the team out
(08:41):
and feel like you're contributing in different ways rather than
you know, DH and feeling like you got four or
five opportunities at the plate to make a difference. So
for me, it's all about the mental aspect of just
giving me a little bit more freedom to just go
out there and play the game.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I've heard from other guys about th h and is
a mentality when you're not a part of the game.
It's like it could feel like four inch hits, four
pinch of at bats. Did did you feel like that
last year? Did it feel like you were a part
of the game, Because even though when you weren't going
out in the.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Field, yeah, you're still a part of the game obviously,
but it's still a difference when you have that one
thing taken away from you that you really love to do.
So that put it in a little bit more perspective
of you know, go out here every day and don't
regret it, be greatful for the opportunity and just be
(09:41):
blessed that, you know, I'm able to put this Jersey.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Only go out there and do what I.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Do well with Byron Bucks and Twins center fielder, join
us here on inside the Parker. If you could pick
one or the other, hitting a walk off three run
home run or snatching the ball back to save a
game in center field to win the game, which one
would you pick?
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Probably snatching the ball Defensively, That's something I just grew
up on when I was little. My dad was always
defensive win championships, and it's just something that it's hard
on me, you know, So me defensively being able to
make plays behind the guys, and that also changes momentum
(10:26):
of the game. So being able to do things like
that is uh, something that I love to do.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
How about the study of other center fielders who first?
Who was your favorite player growing.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Up playing nfield?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Growing up?
Speaker 5 (10:40):
I like Tripper Jones being from Georgia.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
It makes sense Tripper Jones with the Braves and the
Hall of Famer.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
But once I realized about outfield, I watched Andrew Jones,
Tory Hunter.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Uh, it's real.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Those are just a few of the guys that I
started watching when I first converted over to being an outfielder,
and there was more about what you had to do.
It wasn't about anybody can go out there run and
catch a ball, but it was about the first step,
the quickness, the reads, like how precise you gotta be,
(11:20):
just the little bitty things that you gotta do right.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
How about the greatest center field of all time?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Was that?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Is it a historical I.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Mean there's so many great guys, obviously Willie Mays a junior,
I mean, Ricky Henderson. I mean it's just a ton.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
Yeah, that's a that's a good one. I never really
thought about it. For me, it'd probably be griffy though.
I just love remember being I'm alrightys, but being in
the yard, I used to try to imitate him as
a right handed hitter, and it's just something that you
couldn't do, you know. That's how unique he was and
how much fun he was for the game.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
And I think that's true for a lot of people.
The left handed swing. I'm right handed too, but the
left handed swing, to me, is the most beautiful swing
in baseball.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
It just is. They're great right handed hitters, we know that,
But would you say.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
Yeah, you know, obviously, it's a lot of left swings
that I like so it's hard to pick pick just one.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
For sure, one I always remembered I grew up in
New York. Darryl Strawberry's left handed swing.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
Oh yeah, with the Mets. I watched him a little
bit as well. I got to meet him a couple
of times. So yeah, that was he had a sweet.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Swing, no doubt. Last thing, twins. Obviously, you guys have
expectation to be in the postseason, but the division is tougher.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Al Central was considered weak for a while.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
You got the Tigers are playing better, Kansas City's playing better,
and obviously the Guardians are playing better. Is this gonna
be a dogfight? You think for most of the season
or all season?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
For sure?
Speaker 5 (13:02):
You know every day is not a given day. So
you gotta come out here and compete in battle and
do what you gotta do to get a win across
that board. So, like I said, that's what makes this team,
uh bonding chemistry very unique because the only thing we
care about is winning.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
All right, Byron, Thank you, Ma man, appreciate it, sir,
thank you that ball.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
It was a big week in the big leagues.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Who who's a believe.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Is it foul or is it fair? And now from
mlbdbro dot com. Here's Jr.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Gamble in a pole released by The Athletic on Monday.
Players in baseball didn't even vote for Aaron Judge as
a top two player in the game. He was tied
for third with Mookie Betts, behind show Hail Tani and
Ronald o'coon Junior Jr. Is it foul or faul foul?
Speaker 1 (14:05):
That is a foul ball? Come on, guys.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Aaron Judge leads the league in homers with twenty five
and that changes nightly. RBI was sixty two. He's slugging
over seven hundred and has an ops of one point
one four nine, and he's getting on base almost forty
four percent of the time because he also leads the
league in walks. Don't get me wrong, show Hey Otani
(14:31):
is having a great year at the plate in his
first year with the Dodgers sixteen home runs, forty three RBI,
but he's not the hitter Judge is, and without the
pitching that made him a unicorn, no way you can
put him over Judge. Ronald Acunya was spectacular last season,
but he's only been able to muster two of those
superstar seasons. Last year's forty homer seventy steals is nothing
(14:56):
to sneeze at, but Judge puts up Hank, Aaron and
Willie May's numbers with more power. He's truly a generational player.
Mookie Betts is definitely in contention for best all around player,
and his ability to play shortstop and second base, as
well as his gold Glove in the outfield makes him
(15:17):
one of one in MLB and a perennial contender for MVP.
But Judge, however's on another planet and this ain't nothing new,
no way. He's behind one, two, or three other players
as the best player in MLB.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
He broke the homer record as a rookie.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
He broke the ale single season record two seasons ago
as MVP, and he continues to rake for the best
team in baseball. There's no better player than Judge right now.
The players and the athletic need to stop Hayton.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Turn money into more money. Now it's time for betting
on the basis with Dave Gascott.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
Love that money, Love that money.
Speaker 7 (15:55):
Hey, Rob Brand New weekn of Baseball happen to be
here with you. Luis Gill and the New York Game
Keys make their way to Fenway Park on Friday Night,
they get the Red Sox, where he kindling their rivalry.
Yanks have been playing great ball this season. Red Sox
are floundering around middle of the pack and five hundred
Luis Gal eating one so far the season with a
two point zero four ERA. I will take the Yankees
(16:17):
and Aaron Judge hopefully the charge to get things done
in Boston. Meanwhile, slippery slope between the Braves and the Rays.
Tampa Bay's not pitched well so far this season. A
lot of Braves. They aren't hitting well right now, at
least to with the Counya being done for the season.
Zach Lettel versus Chris Sell in this pitching matchup sales
so far, eating two of the three oh one ERA.
(16:38):
I'll take a line at home over Tampa Bay. Different
scene in LA Dodgers and Royals. I'm gonna take Gavin
Stone seven and two so far with an ERA at
two ninety three against Kansas City. Guessy has been good
so far here at the Central thirty nine twenty nine
middle of the week so far, but sub five hundred
on the road. I will take La to get.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
The w.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
It's time for the pocket protector centrum, the analytic numbers
you need to know.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name, BS analytics is
his game.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
What do you got for me, Anthony?
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Baseball is a funny game.
Speaker 8 (17:17):
You take a round ball with a round bat and
try to hit it square, square of course being the
operative word.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
There.
Speaker 8 (17:22):
You hear broadcasters say he squared that one up all
the time, But what does that actually mean? With stat
cast New battracking metrics, we have an answer. Stat cast
New squared up metric shows how hitters and pitchers find
and stay away from the sweet spot, respectively. A squared
up batted ball is one that achieves eighty percent of
(17:43):
his potential exit velocity with contact on the sweet spot
of the bat. Now why is that important? Well, a
squared up swing has an average of three sixty nine
and a fifty seven percent hard hit rate, compared to
a two oh three average and zero point three percent
hard hit rate on a non squared up swing. Now,
the guys at the top of the squared up swing
(18:04):
list this year not a huge shock. It's Luisa Rise
and Mookie Betts. But for pitchers it's not just about
chasing strikeouts. Many hurlers claim they're going after week contact
instead and staying off the sweet spot is how you
do that. The kings of weak contact so far this
year amongst starters are the Orioles Kyle Bradish and the
Nationals Mackenzie Gore at just over seventeen percent, but former
(18:27):
All Star Framber Valdez is on the other end with
a whopping thirty six percent squared up rate this year.
So next time you hear a broadcaster are talking about
squaring a ball up, now, hopefully you'll have some context.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
It's the Gambler here, vice president of operations for mlbbro
dot Com and executive producer of the MLB bro Show podcast.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
It's the Mixtape. Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Every Friday we bring you the best from the world
of Black and Brown baseball. We covered the seven point
two percent of melanated Major leaguers from soup to nuts,
but with our own cultural flair and unique voice, will
take you on a ride reflecting on the accomplishment, clutch moments,
and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe
(19:18):
into baseball.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie Betts.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Doctor K to Doctor Styx, from bro Bombs to stolen
bases to black Aces. We're live at the ballparks and
also bringing you segments like Classic Hits with David Gruff,
the Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the walk Off, and
Going Deep, just the name a few of the segments
that truly capture the voice of black baseball. If things
(19:45):
get out of hand, is the Boss, Rob Parker, He's
kicking up dust. We will gladly pay you on Tuesday
from an MLB bro doubleheader today. Remember the heart of
the game lies in the diversity of the game and
the spirit of black baseball that dates back to.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
The Negro leagues.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
I the Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, making sure
that you stay on top of the game and in
touch with.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
The soul of MLB.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Fuckle up for a wild baseball journey, showing respect to
the Ogs and highlighting the new breed of melanated malt moroders.
First thing through MLB's pipeline, all pitching with the sound
of Black Baseball. We got the best starting five in
the business. Listen to the MLB Bro Show podcast the
Mixtape on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you
(20:37):
get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this model.
If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer
or broadcaster, old or new.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Now, let's welcome into the podcast one of the best
baseball writers in the country. His name is Eric poland
he covers the Yankees for Newsday and E What's Up?
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Thanks for joining me.
Speaker 9 (21:02):
Rob Parker, who was a treat to have you reach
out to me and has always glad to glad to
talk to you.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Well, let's do this as always.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yankees, My god, they're Roland, I mean, putting up runs,
pitching lights out.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I mean, this is this team is fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Eric, just talk about first the Yankees and where they are,
the best record in the American League, and it's it
is a fun watch, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
You know.
Speaker 9 (21:29):
Look, I mean this is my sixteenth year Rob covering
the Yankees, and I've seen all kinds of seasons. My
first year with two thousand and nine their last World
Series team, and obviously that was the end of the
Mariano and Jeter and Petta and that whole group. And
you've seen, you know, various iterations of the Yankees then,
(21:51):
and they really bottomed out, as you know last year
with the eighty two and eighty and their offense just
a disaster. And it wasn't great when Aaron Judge got
hurt in Los Angeles when he uh, you know, suffered
the tow injury running into the bullpen fence at at
Dodger Stadium. That a lot of people, you know, focus
(22:12):
on that, and it probably did cost them a playoff spot,
but in reality that their offense was really inconsistent. Uh,
even when Judge was healthy. Uh, they completely uh refurbished
if you will, their lineup, and you start with Juan
Soto and the.
Speaker 6 (22:30):
Impact that he's had.
Speaker 9 (22:32):
Alex Verdugo certainly has been a good addition as well,
both at the plate and in the field. But you know,
they really do have right now even when you know
you're never gonna.
Speaker 6 (22:41):
Have all nine guys going at once.
Speaker 9 (22:43):
You you watched baseball, covered baseball a long time, rob
you know that, But uh, they really are you know,
teams always talk about, oh, you know, one one for nine,
we're dangerous type of thing, and most of the time
it's not true.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Uh, it's true.
Speaker 9 (22:57):
With the Yankees, it certainly has been this point, and
we haven't even talked about the fact that on top
of the offensive numbers that they put up, oh, by
the way, they also have the best are one of
the best pitching staffs in the game.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
That was the other thing that I looked at.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I don't know where it is today, Eric, so I'm guessing,
but at one point I looked a few days ago
and the.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Team E r Ray was two nine to two.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
And that's what ol, Garrett Cole, I mean, that's an
incredible number in today's baseball.
Speaker 9 (23:30):
It is Robin And what's what's interesting about that is
that I can tell you, regardless of what they said publicly,
when when Cole went down midway three spring training with
the album inflammation, organizationally they were petrified what that was
going to mean. Hey, they really didn't know, regardless of
some of the really bad reporting that was out there
(23:50):
saying that, you know, oh you know, the yanky to breathe,
sigh of relief that the surgery is not needed, et cetera,
and maybe you'll be.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Back in a month something like that.
Speaker 9 (24:00):
And there was relief certainly that there was no season
and Tommy John on the table. Uh, But they were
scared at what they were gonna get because they really,
you know, Stroman came in with questions Rodan's coming off
such a bad year a yeear ago. Bark Schmidt had
only had one full season as a starter in the
(24:20):
big leagues, and he was up and down as you
might expect a first year starter would be. But but
you just don't know what you're gonna get. And not
only have they survived without Pole, they've thrived, and the
numbers back that up. And uh, and it hasn't just
been Luis Heel who is in contention certainly to to
not only make the All Star team, but to start
(24:42):
that game for the American League with with the type
of year that that he's off to And I can
tell you they had no way, shape or form expected
this kind of performance out of heat Heel. But you know,
Strowman's been really good. Before Schmid got hurt, he had
been really good. Nester Courtz has probably has been quote
the worst.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
Of the bunch.
Speaker 9 (25:00):
Shan his era is you know what three three eight
or three four, whatever it is. And you just go
down the list of guys that have performed and again
done far more than just tread water and that's just
a that's a deadly, deadly combination, and to especially accomplish
that in the Al East, which is always a gauntlet.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
As you know.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Our guest is Eric Bolan. He covers the Yankees for
Newsday in New York. I want to get to Heal,
who's twenty six years old. I watched some of his
early starts. He was kind of wild all over the place.
But man, as he put together with a season eight
and one an ERA of two point zero four. This
is all coming into Thursday, ninety strikeouts, a whip zero
(25:44):
point nine three.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
What is it about him? Has stuff? I know he's
got great stuff, but how has he matured into this?
Speaker 6 (25:52):
Well, it's funny, Rob.
Speaker 9 (25:54):
I remember talking to Derek Cole about this right at
the end of spring training and when when heel got
that fifth starter job. And trust me, the Yankees they
sent him to the minor league camp right at the
beginning of March because they thought that we're going to
store this guy away in the minor leagues and he
can be rotation and death for us at some point.
(26:16):
But what happened was is when there was some injuries
that occurred, they brought him back to Big league camp
from minor league camp, and he had a start in Clearwater.
I think it was March sixteen, maybe it was a
little bit before that against the Phillies a lineup in Clearwater,
and he struck out eight guys in three and two
thirds innings, and Harper was one of them. In Balm
(26:38):
and you go down, all the top guys struck out
against him, And I remember talking to Rob Thompson and
Kevin Long separately after that, the manager and hitting coach,
and they said that that was some of the best
stuff they had ever seen in a string training outing.
He really and his next two starts after that, while
not quite as electric, were still really good. And he
(27:00):
basically and Aaron Buona said, this kicked the door down
to the rotation. It was not their intent, but he
was so good and so electric. They said, you know what,
And to their credit, and I'm more than happy to
criticize the Yankees organization and have over the years on
certain things, but to their credit, they said, you know what,
we didn't expect this, but we're going.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
To ride this.
Speaker 6 (27:19):
We're going to see what happens.
Speaker 9 (27:20):
Because his stuff was so good at the end of
the spring, and he's just turried that into the regular season.
But one of the things that when I asked him
about Heal, I go, you know, what do you got
on this guy? He said, what's really impressive about him
is that he can come out growing ninety seven, ninety eight,
and then you come back to him in the fifth
or sixth inning and he's still throwing it at that velocity.
(27:42):
And he said, when you look at hard throwing starters
in this league, there's very few of us and poles
in this category, very few of us who can sustain
that kind of velocity from the first inning all the
way through. You know, pitch eighty, pitch ninety, pitch one hundred,
and you've seen that with Heel, and then you throw in,
you know, a plus change up, plus slider. He's got
(28:04):
three plus pitches that he's comfortable throwing at any time,
in any count. And another thing that Cole said is
this kid learns he will something won't go right in
one start and then five days later he'll correct it,
or even in game he's able to correct it. And
the two things that stood out the most to Cole
(28:26):
about Heel was how he could sustain the velocity and
his aptitude as just a pitcher and as a craftsman,
and that's something that the Cole always talks about, the craft.
Speaker 6 (28:38):
You marry those two things and this is the result
that you get.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Amazing. It really is amazing to watch.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Earlier in the podcast, I talked about Aaron Judge, so
I'm not going to even approach that with you. He's
having an unbelievable season. But two other people quickly I
want to ask you about. One is Wan Soto, who.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
I wasn't sure if you would ever have to turn
intown four hundred and forty million dollars guaranteed whatever. I'll
approach that again, especially the way things win in San
Diego comes to the Bronx, embraces the plan for the
Yankees and the fans and everything, and it's having a
tremendous season. And now people are pretty convinced he's going
to get at least five hundred million dollars.
Speaker 9 (29:22):
Oh, I'm convinced of that too. I mean, now that
the covey out to that Robin Again, you've covered the
sport a long time. Is that there's only a small
handful of teams right who are willing And I won't
say can afford, I would say is willing to because
I never buy the prize of property that you get,
so somebody bagically baseball owners. But there's only a small
(29:42):
handful of teams that are willing to outlay that kind
of financial commitment, both in terms of dollars in years
for this type of free agent, and the Yankees obviously
are one of them, but also the Mets are are
one as well. And if Steve Gohan really really wants him,
I can tell you that that Scott Boris on soda,
the agent is salivating at the possibility of an intra
(30:04):
New York fitting war for one of the best free
agents to come in the market in a very very
long time. Probably, you know, maybe maybe ever certainly brought
Bryce Harper would be in that category, But yeah, I
think it'll be north of five hundred, and depending on
how the rest of the season goes, Brisoto, you know,
(30:25):
I could easily see it being some kind of a
six hundred plus package as well. I mean, I hate to,
you know, and Boris doesn't mean need me to do
his job for him. He Scott got can handle this
stuff on his own. But I hate the cliche, but
I do think that if the season finishes the way
that it started for Soda, the sky certainly will be
(30:47):
the limit.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Last thing, g and Carlos then, I mean, thirty four
got criticized by the general manager in the offseason, and
all this guy's done is hit seventeen.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
Home runs in sixty one games.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
And the shots he's hitting, the one last night in
Kansas City was ridiculous, four hundred and forty nine feet.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
What's happened here? Is he just finally healthy?
Speaker 9 (31:14):
Yeah, I mean that has a lot to do with it,
Rob And you know, I think that that people forget
that this is a guy that his first eight years
in Miami he's a a damn good player. And it's
not just at the plate, but in the field he
was he was a solid right fielder as well. And
you know, injuries from the time really he had a
healthy first season with the Yankees and then really had
(31:37):
not had a healthy full season after that. And if
you look at his numbers from his first year with
the Yankees back in twenty and eighteen, it was pretty
you know, it's pretty good. So certainly, obviously, as you know,
players is one they get north of thirty two to
thirty three generally don't get better. But John Carlow, who
has always been among the best physical, full conditioned players
(32:02):
certainly that I've covered in my time with the Yankees.
I mean, his body fat, I think is you know,
for the length of his career has been a negative,
but he's still even being in that great condition. Decided
this offseason that maybe he needs to lose some muscle,
and maybe he needs to become a little bit more agile.
Speaker 6 (32:20):
And he's been a.
Speaker 9 (32:20):
Little bit cagy on a lot of the things that
he did in the off season. But when he showed
up in spring training in Tampa with the Yankees, he
looked like he had not looked like he had completely
transformed his body. He shed at least twenty pounds of muscle,
and an already chiseled Phusique appeared even more so because
(32:41):
he had just shed a lot of the muscle that
he had built over the years with weight training, et cetera.
Speaker 6 (32:46):
And I really believe that had helped him stay on
the field this year.
Speaker 9 (32:51):
And with John Carlow, you know, it really has not
been a question of whether he able to hit major
league pitching or not. It's been staying healthy and all
sorts of lower body injuries that have plagued him over
the years, and part of dropping the weight mask the
muscle mask was to avoid those lot of lower body
injuries and it certainly has been successful to this point.
(33:14):
And then of course, you know, you have the protection
of Judge and Soto and what bold he has done
at the at the top of the order, and you
can't under sell the kind of impact that that he
has had. But you know, John Carlo is kind of
able to just sort of lay back and you know,
he's hit as low as you know, sixth in the lineup.
Speaker 6 (33:35):
And even at the beginning of the season, I think he.
Speaker 9 (33:36):
Might have managed seventh the once or twice and you know,
pitchers eventually they got a pitched to somebody. And Angehan
Carlow has you know, feasted at times. He's a streaky hitter.
We all know that he's always been that. Even in
his fifty nine home run MVP season and then Glance
here with Miami, he was, you know, streaky at times.
(33:57):
But uh, you know, his because he's been able to
stay on the field. You know, I think that he's
been able to make the bad stretches last a little
bit shorter and again the opposing pictures. You can't you
can't pitch around everybody, and he's taking advantage of that.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
His name is Eric Bolan, one of the best in
the business from Newsday covers the Yankees. My friend, thank you.
I'll see you down the road at the ballpark.
Speaker 9 (34:23):
Rob. I look forward to it, and I know I've
texted you this over the years, but the congratulations on
all the successes that you've had with all of your endeavors,
there always seems to be every six months to twelve
months a new one that you're you're rolling out and
I could not be happier for you.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Thank you, Eric, man, I appreciate that with for real.
Speaker 6 (34:43):
Stay well you too, my friend, Tuck you soon.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
Now bring in the closer right. Here's why MLB is
better than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Reason number five hundred and fifty five wire Major League
Baseball it was better than the NBA and better than
the NFL is simple. And it takes place next Thursday
down in Birmingham, Alabama, as Major League Baseball celebrates the
Negro Leagues. I mean, are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (35:18):
What a game?
Speaker 2 (35:19):
The Cardinals and the Giants will square off in an
intimate setting of about eight thousand seats nine thousand macs
to watch a Major League Baseball game at Rickwood Stadium,
which is the oldest ballpark in the United States, over
one hundred somei years old.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
It's where the Negro Leagues played.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Willie Mays, who's ninety three years old, who played in
the Negro Leagues and played for the Birmingham Parons, hopefully
will be in attendance. But that's what baseball does well.
It sells its past. Its game is rich in history
and tradition, and you can turn the clocks back. We
saw the game in Iowa and the Cornfield I mean
(36:06):
the Field of Dreams game that gave you goosebumps. You
remember that with the walk off and Tim Anderson and
what that is all about, playing in those intimate ballparks,
and the same thing here at Rickwood. I will be
down there for mlbbro dot Com covering the event.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
Can't wait.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
But that's something that baseball does real well. It celebrates
its past, and the other sports they just don't do it.
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until
next time, Rob Parker out d can't Gavin, This could
(36:47):
be an inside the Parker.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
See you next week, same bat time, from same Matt station.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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