April 1, 2025 • 25 mins
On today's episode, MLB Writer for The Athletic Sam Blum joins Jason to deliver all the details you need to know about the torpedo bat, after the Yankees huge weekend caused the bat to take the league by storm. Blum breaks down the history and legalities of the bat and explains why he wouldn't be surprised to see every team using them very soon. Plus, Jason reacts to the Lakers holding off the Rockets on Monday night and explains why Houston is very vulnerable in the playoffs despite their strong season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is up straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntyre.
Straight Fire for Tuesday, April first, April Fool's Day. Don't
get got. I surely will not. I will be on
the internet very little today. It's one of those days
where people try to get you. Resist the temptation. We
got a great, great interview today. Listen. We don't do
(00:32):
a ton of baseball on this podcast, but the torpedo
bats were such a big story over the weekend and
yesterday that we had to get a guest. So mister
Blum coming over from the Athletic Sam Blum, really good
stuff on the origin of these bats, where we might
be headed, who's using them? I saw the kid on
(00:53):
the Cincinnati Reds, the young fellow who's awesome. Ellie de
la Cruz hit two homers with the torpedo bats on Monday.
I'm just telling you, guys, this story is fascinating. Even
if you don't love baseball, you have to love change
and ingenuity and just smart adjustments in life. I mean,
it's as easy as hey, man, three points is more
(01:15):
than two. We can make threes. And the Golden State
Warriors and the Houston Rockets were at the forefront of
the sea change in the NBA, and here we are,
what ten years later, and it's all threes. You even
look at the NFL, which is a copycat league. Everybody's
now trying the Toush push. Nobody can really do it.
So the Odors they might be getting together to ban
(01:35):
the Toush push. You look at baseball, moneyball. I mean,
there's so many examples in sports of somebody not creating
something out of thin air, but finding a loophole or
a different way to do things. A loophole would be Belichick.
He did some things memorably in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
That caught people off guard.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
You just got to think outside the box. And I
love the torpedo bat story, so I think you'll like
the interview. I just did want to quickly quickly touch
on Lakers one zero four, Rockets ninety eight. Not an
esthetically pleasing basketball game. The Lakers had sixteen points after
the first quarter. I stopped betting Lakers first quarter. It's
just the run is over. Teams are hip to what
(02:14):
they're doing. You got what about twenty games now some
thereabouts of Lebron Luca Reeves. So people are starting to
figure out the Lakers who had been unbelievable out of
the gate, and the offense really struggled for both teams.
I mean, Luca was six of sixteen, one of seven
from deep, Lakers hit sixteen threes, Rocket shot forty one percent.
(02:36):
I mean, this is the Rockets were a perfect example
of why Kevin Durant is so desperately needed on this team.
Of their starters, only one of them shot over fifty
percent from the field, and that was Aman Thompson, who's
really fricking good at twenty two. I mean, you guys
know he's a defensive stalwart, but his offense is starting
to come around. If he doesn't let it go to
his head and he gets in the gym and works
(02:57):
with a shot doctor. I mean, this guy's a limbit.
For this kid, he'll be an All Star in a
year or two if he keeps this up. Because remember
we're phasing out. You know in two years, is kd
at thirty nine gonna be a factor. I don't know
what do we have from Curry in two years? Where's
I mean, Lebron might be retired in two years, so
we're gonna have a bunch of new guys come up,
(03:18):
and these Thompson twins are good. But other than Thompson,
like Dylan Brooks struggled and he's still a goon. I
can't stand that guy. Sengoon struggled and he was not
even the Lakers didn't even play really a center last night.
Lebron had a monster block on him at the end
of the game. Fred van Vliet two of fourteen, Jalen
Green four of thirteen. I think he was benched down
the stretch. Total non factor. They went with Jabari Smith
(03:38):
and Tarry Easan, who I like both those guys a lot.
There's a lot on the team. They have seven strong players.
Cam Wanmore didn't even get in the game. I think
he's very good. Reed Shepherd they like a lot. I
think at some point you basically said to the Sun's hey,
other than Aman Thompson and probably Tarry Easton, who do
(03:58):
you want on our team? And the Sons obviously will
want to cut salaries significantly, so the one expiring deals,
my guess is they would want to get in on
the Reed Shepherd action. I don't know who the Rockets
are gonna have to give up, but they need an
offensive half court guy. They scored ninety eight points. I'm
just telling you now, I like the Rockets a lot.
If they face anyone other than the Grizzlies they're losing
(04:19):
in the first round, they'll probably be able to beat
the Grizzlies, who are not good at all and just
fire their coach. As for the Lakers, Ruy Hachi Mora
airball three late. Sometimes I feel like he's just out
there getting cardio. How are you six' ten occasionally playing?
Center Because Jackson hayes barely played and you get two
rebounds in thirty one. MINUTES i just don't get. THAT i,
(04:41):
Mean Gabe vincent goes oufter for twenty three minutes and
gets four, rebounds like he's hustling his butt. Off by the,
Way gab vinzit was huge with six. Threes The lakers
got twelve threes from their. Bench Drian Finney smith hit,
Six gabe hit. Six the Starters Luca lebron And reeves
combined to go thro for fourteen from. Three Tasson rui's
(05:02):
won for, six and it was a nightmare from the
starters for. Three that being, said they got the. Win
that's all the. Matters lakers now because obviously The lakers
are gonna be the story in The. West, sorry, okay,
See lakers are now What gabe back Of denver for the,
three and they are two games back Of houston for the.
(05:25):
Two So lakers trying to be on the heels of
The rockets as long as you don't have to face
okay see in the first. ROUND i think you're. Fine
that being, Said Golden state's coming. Strong The clippers And
timberwolves are playing. GOOD i mean we might see The
grizzlies fall into the, plane which would be a gift
for whoever gets the two seed or the one. Trying trust,
(05:48):
me The grizzlies are not. Good dallas starting to show
signs of, life although they had a tough. Loss was
It sunday or last? Night, no it was last. Night
they lost A.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Brook, yeah that. BAD i.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
SAW i saw a lot of minutes For, Drew timmy
remember The gonzaga a, leegend he had a he had
a nice little. Game and The. MAVs i'm still not
a believer despite a d being back and yeah this,
SEASON i don't believe When kyrie comes back in like eight,
months talk to. Me but as of now the play
in matchups would Be Timberwolves clippers for the. Seven that's
(06:24):
a that's a toss. Up those teams are both very
good And MAVs kings is an elimination. Game that again
and toss. Up i'll just Lean kings there Because i'm
really just out on The MAVs at this. Point, suns
you know they could still get, in but WITH kd
out at least a, week it's it's not looking good at. All,
anyways great win for The, lakers and they got a big,
one big One thursday against The warriors who were trying
(06:46):
to gain. Ground and Because cowherd was able to get
us Off, FRIDAY i can now maybe go to The
laker Game, thursday and so kind of sort of excited about. That,
anyways without further, ado let's get to our, Guest Sam
blum from The.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Aff Fox Sports radio has the best sports talk lineup
in the. Nation catch all of our shows at Foxsports
radio dot com and within The iHeartRadio app SEARCH fsr
to listen. Live you know a, Guy jason likes to
think he knows everything when it comes to. SPORTS i
know what sports fans, want but for everything he. Doesn't
(07:22):
he knows a guy who.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Does let's just SAY i know a guy who knows
the guy who knows another. Guy all, right let's welcome
into Straight, fire a first timer here on the. Podcast, now,
listen baseball just started last, week and holy, cow did
a massive story take over the entire. Weekend and to
talk torpedo. Bats Sam blum From The Athletic, sam how you, doing.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Man i'm, Good, jason are You i'm.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Excellent i'm intrigued by everything that's happened so far with
the torpedo. Bats make me aware because you WROTE i
think the definitive story on. Them when did they first
emerge on your?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
RADAR i, MEAN i think like for most, people it
was After Saturdays yankees And, brewers you, know they you,
know The yankees have twenty, runs not a franchise, record nine,
homers and it's you, KNOW i think it's an, interesting you,
know topic of conversation because that wasn't really like the
start of these. Bats you, know this is dated back
to you, KNOW i think really twenty twenty. TWO i
(08:19):
think we started seeing them in the big leagues maybe last.
Year Gehan Carlos stan use. Them so this is not
like necessarily a completely new. Revelation BUT i think what what,
happened you, know with That yankees game And Michael kay
talking about it on the, broadcast it brought it into
the public consciousness in a way that maybe we haven't
even come close to. Seeing AND i think for, PLAYERS i,
mean it's not just it's not just, fans it's. Not
(08:41):
that's what's most interesting about the story to me is
that this is a story that players are kind of
learning about in real time, too and it's going to
impact the game as we see it day to. DAY i,
think you, know this is something that we might see
evolved By, Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday so that to me is
what makes the story really. Fun.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Yeah and in your, article which is a great piece
of The, athletic it basically says The, twins there's a
guy who's been using, It Blue jays, players raised, players
so it's been, around but it didn't pop until The
yankees The Evil empire. Did do you think it has
something to do with The yankees being? INVOLVED i, think, well,
LISTEN i think part of it is The. Yankees you,
know the person who invented this. Tech, NO i would say,
(09:15):
technology because it's not really proprietary and it's not really.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Technology but the guy who really thought of this came
from The. Yankees so this was a you, know AN mit.
Professor i'm and it totally bought you, Know butcher the
pronunciation of his, name SO i won't even. Try but
this was you, know A, yankee Former yankees. Coach now
with The, marlins who you, know FORMER mit physics. PROFESSOR
i believe it's all that who you know created this this.
Idea and it's funny to me because, it's LIKE i,
(09:38):
said this is. Nothing there's something proprietary about, this, Right
it's just moving the barrel a little bit down on the,
bat which you know theory makes so much. Sense everyone's
kind of, like oh, yeah like that. Works, well you,
know this has been allowed. Forever so it's it's funny
to me that this is really becoming a, thing just
like in the Late march of twenty twenty, five that
we're all just learning about. It so, YES i think
(09:58):
to some, extent The yankees are going to you, know
draw the, eyeballs draw the. ATTENTION i think if this
had been The marlins doing it with this new you,
know we might be wouldn't be talking about it as.
Much but, YEAH i mean when you do it on
a team that Has Aaron, judge he's not who's not
even using the? Bat, uh you KNOW i think that
it it it creates you, know more public interest, maybe
(10:18):
but you, know this is something we've heard that The
cubs we're looking into this like last year as. Well
so this is it's you, know this is not something
that's completely out of out of thin. Air and and
you know also want to SAY i appreciate. You you know
you're crediting the. Story this was done by reporters all
across our, company really mean talking to. Players one of
the unique elements of the athletic having beat writers. Everywhere
so you, know it was a it was a cool
(10:40):
story and and you, know Just john don't want to
take all the credit for.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
It yeah, Obviously So, sam can you tell me how
the story? Happened like over the, weekend The yankees did
a billion homers and you, Know Michael kay mentions it
on the broadcast The New bats and at that point
social media starts TO i, mean it kind of swallowed
up The elite eight over the weekend and it was, like,
oh this is a big is that when you guys
put the wheels in. Motion, hey let's get reporters all
over the place to talk about.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
This, WELL i, mean maybe it's because The elite eight
has been was so. Boring that's a good, point but,
NO i mean, YEAH i mean that's like the, way
that's the way we operate. REALLY i mean it's, like you,
know people jump on big stories as they, happen and
we have reporters, everywhere so THAT i think that uniquely
put puts us in a unique position to talk to
guys and get kind of real time, uh you, know
(11:24):
information from from players all across the. Sport AND i
think that's what in a story like, this that that's
what's so. Cool. Uh you, know this story is just
so interesting to me because it's players learning about it
at the same time as. Reporters, really AND i think
in so many, situations like you, KNOW i talked to
multiple players yesterday who said this is the first they
were hearing about. It but then you got guys like
you said on The twins who maybe already knew about.
It and you, know one of THE i, WAS i
(11:44):
was In chicago yesterday with The White sox and The,
angels AND i talked To Nicki, lopez who had been
with The cubs in spring training and actually had one
of these. Bats he goes over to The angels and
none of The angel players even know about, it so
they're all talking to him about. It AND i think
that that's one of the interesting elements of this whole,
story is like players are learning about, it and apparently
like a lot of them are calling their agents trying
to get these, bats calling their bat, guys trying, to you,
(12:06):
know at least see what it's all. About you, KNOW
i think they could be overblown just how helpful these things.
Are probably it could, be. RIGHT i think over time
we'll see a sample size that we just don't have right,
now and nobody's really calculated right. Now but, yeah it will.
Be it will be something we'll learn about as the
days and makes to.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
COME i, mean IS i don't know if this is
comparable to in THE, nba The warriors And rockets started
just shooting a million three, pointers LIKE i don't, know
twelve fifteen years, ago just under the hey three is
worth more than. Two it's inefficient to shoot long, twos
and then everybody it's a. Copycat everybody starts copying even
within baseball With Billy bean And moneyball when they brought
(12:44):
that IN i don't know what early two thousands with The.
A's everybody then starts. Copying do you think that the
torpedo bats could be on that level of sea change
for the league or it's it's way too early to.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
TELL i think it could, be And i'm but my
question is, like, what you, know what's the impact you,
know because, YEAH i mean like if if if people
can hit more home, runs and it could and people
an offense can can be, uh you, know increased significantly
from the tech from these from these bats one hundred,
PERCENT i think that you might see it almost universally
like that's and that's just my, guess Right, LIKE i don't,
(13:16):
know AND i think it's still too, early maybe far
too early to say that that's what will happen, Here but,
YEAH i, mean like it's, interesting AND i think the
reason why it's resonating is because every you, know everyone
knows what a baseball bat looks, like right like this
this is an image of that people can kind, of you,
know have you don't have to like, baseball you don't
have to like sports even you just kind of know
what that looks. Like it's it's kind of transcends the
(13:38):
sport in a lot of. Ways but to have it
look just like a, torpedo have it, looked you, know completely,
DIFFERENT i think is a really fascinating. Concept AND i
think it's something that, yeah this could evolve, quickly and
it could evolve, significantly but again time will tell just
how how actual you, know the, numbers, uh you know play.
Out but, again like there have been players who have
(13:58):
been using this now for a little while and they've
seen some. Success the thing THAT i think is really
interesting is how will pictures, adjust because pictures adjust. Everything
and we talked with you, know one of my, Colleagues
david O'Brien talked With Matt olsen yesterday And, olsen you,
know really great you, know first basement for The Atlanta,
braves said that he expects maybe pictures will start to
(14:18):
run outside, more try to get contact off the ends
of the, beat which will result more out so you
might see PICTURE i mean. Pictures baseball is all about
the adjustments that everyone makes day to day and how
you adjust to you, know the new bat or how
you adjust to a shift or whatever it might. Be
AND i think that this is something that you, know
we're Not we're not just going to see a barrage
of homers because of. It i'm sure that right the
(14:39):
game will even itself, out as it always.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Does you mentioned the, shift and that was another. One
but the league quickly moved to remove the shift BECAUSE
i guess it was just too much of an advantage
and kind of depressed. Offense do you think, that and,
again it's too. Early we have a tiny sample, Size
but if all of a sudden we've got a billion home,
runs is the league and be, like, whoa we need
to outlaw these? Bats do you think that's even a
consideration or just way too?
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Early, well you, know part of it is like the
bat measurements are like collectively bargained agreements at this, point
so you, know we got two more years of this
at the very. LEAST i DON'T i don't know how
the league would have the and this just this is
me just kind of kind of reading between the lines
of like HOW i think this thing would play, Out
LIKE i can't imagine that the league would have even
the ability to just unilaterally say these bats are, barred
(15:24):
because you, know like when you talk about like the
sicky stuff on on pitchers, Hands like they just started
enforcing that, rule but that was always the, Rule like
pitchers could never have that stuff on their. Hands it
just became something AN mlb was. Enforcing this is these
are legal. Bats you, know they're they're within the. RULES
i THINK i forgot it's what the exact measurements. Are
but you, know this is within the. Rules SO i
don't think the league even has the ability until the
(15:46):
end of THE, cba which is after next, season to
make any, changes to collectively bargain any. Changes you, know
one of the players that was quoted in our, Story Jake,
cronenworth who is on you, know the union, subcommittee said,
that you, know seem to endorse these. Ideas, yeah maybe.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Trying so.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
For, now, LIKE i don't see HOW i think we're
gonna have a runway to see if this. Works and you,
know at some, point if the offense explodes to the
point where it's no longer competitive and the game is significantly, changed,
yet maybe there is an adjustment that the league will
opt to try and. Make BUT i think for, now you,
know they're just as intrigued as everyone.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Else, Yeah baseball's a sport where they really cherish the
old ways and the old school and like the twenty Seven,
yankees people talk more history with baseball than. Anything have
you gotten any pushback after your story from the, purests you,
know the fifty and up, crowd who are, like wait a,
minute this doesn't seem. Right are you seeing any pushback at?
All because change people are very resistant to.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
It, well if you're in the, story like we Quoted Ron,
washington Ys engles, manager and he's a you, know he's
an old school baseball, guy and he's, like well he
and he played baseball quite a while. Ago obviously he's
LIKE i think seventy three. Now but, YEAH i mean
that that was fascinating to me that he was just
LIKE i figured out how to you, know managed to
navigate like, ja like IF i didn't have to change
(17:01):
the barrel in my bed, Right like, yeah maybe there
maybe there's something to, that you. Know BUT i, mean for,
me Like i'm ALWAYS i was, against you, know like
banning the, Shift LIKE i always think that hitters and
pitchers in the game needs to adjust to what works
within the rules as opposed as banning. Things BUT i,
mean you, know if you're a baseball. PURIST i would
argue that this is exactly What this is a good.
THING i, mean this is within the, rules it's, working you,
(17:22):
know it's it's what's always been the, case and people
are just making you, know adaptations to be able to you,
know do their job. Better AND i think that's that's
exactly what baseball is all. About and so if they
were to ban, it that would be for me against
the baseball purist mindset at least.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Interesting Fox Sports radio has the best sports talk lineup
in the. Nation catch all of our shows At Foxsports
radio dot com and within The iHeartRadio app SEARCH fsr
to listen.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Live let me ask. You have a great quote From
Taylor word about how he had not heard of these
bats until they went viral over the. WEEKEND i, do you,
know LIKE i find it a little strange that this
has been kind of out there for a couple of,
years as the article, states but only now going. Viral
did a lot of people spined out about? It including?
Players did that surprise you at?
Speaker 3 (18:09):
All you, know it did a little, bit just that
there seemed to be this big difference between you, know
which teams knew about, It, like you, know will. VENTABLE
i no idea The White, sox and he was with
The Texas rangers last, year, right so like it's not
like he was with The White, sox who were obviously
like a struggling, organization you, know it's it seemed to
be kind of team to team that was aware of.
It AND i think maybe part of that, is you,
(18:29):
know partnerships with like bad companies or you, know it
could be any number of reasons why certain teams were
more aware of it than. Others but WHAT i WHAT
i my understanding is like multiple bat companies kind of
have this this, tech this new these new bats. AVAILABLE
i don't really think that you, know this is something
that's like the brainchild of like one, company, Right, like LIKE i,
(18:51):
said this is this, tech anybody can make these. Bats
like it's within the, rules there's nothing there's nothing that's
like patented about. It and so it will you, know
become part of the baseball, conscious you, know full, TIME
i think quite. Soon but, yeah a little surprising to
me that not everyone knew about. It, yeah these things get.
Around but, AGAIN i think the funniest part to me
is that like when this guy initially pitched it to The.
(19:11):
Yankees a lot of the players were, like, nah, like,
YEAH i don't like, this, like AND i think people
are resistant to. Change it's, like who's this nerd standing
in front of me telling ME i need to like
change my dat to like look like some weird torpedo. Thing,
yeah you, know and then all of a, sudden some
some smart players like figure out that it, works and
then it becomes a, thing and it's, like oh, man
The yankees just hitt nine home, Runs so, YEAH i
(19:31):
THINK i think part of that the reason people haven't
heard about it as much is because a lot of
players probably wrote it off when they first did hear about. It.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Yeah it almost feels like in life sometimes we're just
so used to one thing and the way it is
a baseball, bat you, know you don't, think, hmm how
COULD i make this more? Efficient, right everybody's been picking
up bats for the last you, know you're a young,
guy but, LIKE i don't, Know i've been swinging bats
for like forty. YEARS i never even, thought how can
we make this more? Efficient it's JUST i think it's
pretty cool To and this guy was a kind of
(19:57):
a non baseball, guy, Right he was like An mit
physics professor.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Something, yeah, exactly, SO i, mean you, know And Brendan
cutty had a good story On The athletic about this
guy in. PARTICULAR i mean it's, yeah it's this IS i,
mean smart organizations across baseball are are innovating in these
ways my, opinion, Right, LIKE i think that's partly why you,
see you, know teams like The, dodgers The, yankees like
like they're not just paying every free agent like they're
(20:20):
they're doing smart things behind the, scenes employing smart people
that can that. That you, KNOW i think, critically think you,
know big picture and think long, term and that's The
this is the product of smart people being in the
game and smart organizations doing the right. THINGS i, mean you,
KNOW i think when you look at other organizations like The,
rockies The, pirates The, angels, like, uh you, know teams
that haven't necessarily had, success The White sox Like marlins at.
(20:44):
TIMES i, mean The marlins are maybe unique situation because
they obviously have this. Guy but you, know, it's, uh you,
know you're not seeing necessarily that that type of innovation long.
Term you, know you're you're not seeing the type of
investment across the. Organization SO i think that you, know
this isn't AN i think that's WHAT i would say
is you have smart people in your. Organization they come
up with smart, ideas and it might take, years it
(21:05):
might take a, while but, ultimately like this is what
this is why the game.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Grows SO i THOUGHT i saw a stat that g
And Carlos stanton is one of like the big guys
who has had a massive increase in his bat velocity.
Swing if we start seeing these numbers for, everybody there's
no way that this doesn't become like a total seat
change around the, league.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Right, YEAH i MEAN i think With stanton he may
have you, know he was already kind of the hardest
swinging player in. Baseball that's. Fair, yeah, yeah, Yeah and but,
YEAH i, mean LIKE i, think you, know from what
we've talked, with from all people we talk, to, like you,
know some people say that they think it will increase bat.
Speed some people say that it. Won't some people say
that it won't increase bat, speed but it might increase
exit velocity. Overall so, OVERALL i, mean if you're increasing
your exit velocity even just a mile a mile and
(21:48):
a half on, average that's what fifteen extra hits a.
YEAR i mean some one of the players was. Estimating
so you, KNOW i think that's that like any advantage
you can get in BASE i, mean you know, baseball
like you, understand it's about it's about getting those fifteen
extra hits over one hundred and sixty two. Games it's
like any little thing that can make you a tiny
bit more, effective that can extend your career one more, year,
(22:10):
Right like that's what anybody's looking. For so in my,
opinion you, know it'll be interesting to see and one
of the other really fascinating elements to, me as you Mentioned,
stanton you, know one of the players we talked to
said that he didn't think this necessarily was for the big.
Sluggers like the sluggers might be are more prone to
hitting balls off the regular part of the. Barrel this
isn't necessarily something that we'll see those types of hitters,
do like An Aaron. Judge BUT i don't, know maybe
(22:34):
it's maybe maybe that's, right maybe that's, wrong BUT i
think that's something to look for and we get to
see Show Heyo, Tani Mike, trout like you, know the
big superstars in the game start to change their. Bets
maybe maybe.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
NOT i like how you phrased, it like over the
course of a, season fifteen extra, hits that's that's. Significant
very but it's almost like, gambling, Right so people, say, hey,
MAN i have a tiny edge AND i can go
up TO i can hit fifty nine percent of my,
bets and people are, like, oh that's that's not. Good
well over the long, haul and baseball is a long
what one sixty two, games like that's the longest season
of professional.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Sports not, BAD i mean.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Significant i'm fifty nine percent of gambling would be amazing
for a. Season but you, know it's just that small.
Edge BECAUSE i saw a. Stat well wait a, Minute
diskuy on The twins went over four using that. Bat i'm, like,
guys that that's one, Game like like can we track
up over the course of a.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Season you, know yeah, EXACTLY i, mean and you know
for four it can mean, anything, right it can mean
you hit the ball, harder certain play. Like it's just
it doesn't like it's like you, said like it's over
the course of the. Year that's what baseball is all.
About it's just like how do you? Perform any game
can give you absolutely no information but one hundred and
sixty two games gives you a lot of. Information SO
i think these, BATS i would throw out that That
yankees game On, saturday it doesn't really. Matter all it
(23:42):
did was created a conversation for people and SHOWCASE i
think what maybe this could mean for the. Game and
so we'll. SEE i mean IT'S i think that's all this.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Is we'll.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
See but you, know, again like if if players believe in,
it you'll see. It and it doesn't really matter how
actually effective it is if it's. Believed and we you,
know if you look at the last quote there From, jazzism,
right like he even, said LIKE i don't even know
if this works to some, Extent like in my head it,
works and so that for me is Why i'm doing,
it AND i respect. THAT i think that's exactly like
you know kind of what baseball, is, Right it's it's
(24:13):
a mental, game and it's about that those maybe that
one extra thing you can do right that can get
you an.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Edge i'll get you out of here on. This, obviously
you cover The angels very. Closely Mike trout is a
big buzzy. Name could The angels trade? HIM i know
it's early in the season long way to, Go but
any thoughts on Mister, trout who has obviously had an amazing,
career and there's it just seems like the chatters out
there that he could be.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
DEALT i don't think. SO i would be really, shocked
to be honest with. You and there's a lot of,
reasons but the main one is his contract isn't very
favorable for a. TRADE i think he also needs to
prove THAT i think that he can stay healthy and be,
effective which are things that he's not really done over
the last four years except for maybe twenty twenty. Two
so it's, just you, know it's been a long stretch
of like just not being really. Tradable HE'S i think
thirty to turn thirty four this, year If i'm not,
(25:01):
MISTAKEN i don't really see he's got six years left
on his. Contract this is the time when you wouldn't
be able to really trade, somebody and especially when they're
making you, know over thirty five million dollars a. Year
so unless The angels would eat a lot of that,
MONEY i don't see why they would do. That or
the only other SCENARIO i could really see, is you,
know if the team's really really bad and shouts like
AN mvp level good that there might be some interest
(25:24):
and that might be the right time to. Strike but even,
THEN i don't know how many teams would want to
take on that. Contract AND i think the best chance
he has of ever being traded is maybe the last
year of the, seconds last year of his, deal when
you maybe want to go, play you, know in The
phillies or someplace closer closer to The east coast where he's.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
From, So, sam do you prefer torpedo bats or bowling
pin as like a phrase for that.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Torpedo bats, MAN i, think, okay sounds, fun but you, know.
BOWLING i, mean we'll see even this this thing is
all just getting, started so it's gonna oh, yeah it's
just to be. Good all plays, out.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
All, Right Sam blum The athletic Great stuff read his.
Story thanks a, Lot.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Sam Thanks, jason appreciate.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
It
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is up straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntyre.
Straight Fire for Tuesday, April first, April Fool's Day. Don't
get got. I surely will not. I will be on
the internet very little today. It's one of those days
where people try to get you. Resist the temptation. We
got a great, great interview today. Listen. We don't do
(00:32):
a ton of baseball on this podcast, but the torpedo
bats were such a big story over the weekend and
yesterday that we had to get a guest. So mister
Blum coming over from the Athletic Sam Blum, really good
stuff on the origin of these bats, where we might
be headed, who's using them? I saw the kid on
(00:53):
the Cincinnati Reds, the young fellow who's awesome. Ellie de
la Cruz hit two homers with the torpedo bats on Monday.
I'm just telling you, guys, this story is fascinating. Even
if you don't love baseball, you have to love change
and ingenuity and just smart adjustments in life. I mean,
it's as easy as hey, man, three points is more
(01:15):
than two. We can make threes. And the Golden State
Warriors and the Houston Rockets were at the forefront of
the sea change in the NBA, and here we are,
what ten years later, and it's all threes. You even
look at the NFL, which is a copycat league. Everybody's
now trying the Toush push. Nobody can really do it.
So the Odors they might be getting together to ban
(01:35):
the Toush push. You look at baseball, moneyball. I mean,
there's so many examples in sports of somebody not creating
something out of thin air, but finding a loophole or
a different way to do things. A loophole would be Belichick.
He did some things memorably in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
That caught people off guard.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
You just got to think outside the box. And I
love the torpedo bat story, so I think you'll like
the interview. I just did want to quickly quickly touch
on Lakers one zero four, Rockets ninety eight. Not an
esthetically pleasing basketball game. The Lakers had sixteen points after
the first quarter. I stopped betting Lakers first quarter. It's
just the run is over. Teams are hip to what
(02:14):
they're doing. You got what about twenty games now some
thereabouts of Lebron Luca Reeves. So people are starting to
figure out the Lakers who had been unbelievable out of
the gate, and the offense really struggled for both teams.
I mean, Luca was six of sixteen, one of seven
from deep, Lakers hit sixteen threes, Rocket shot forty one percent.
(02:36):
I mean, this is the Rockets were a perfect example
of why Kevin Durant is so desperately needed on this team.
Of their starters, only one of them shot over fifty
percent from the field, and that was Aman Thompson, who's
really fricking good at twenty two. I mean, you guys
know he's a defensive stalwart, but his offense is starting
to come around. If he doesn't let it go to
his head and he gets in the gym and works
(02:57):
with a shot doctor. I mean, this guy's a limbit.
For this kid, he'll be an All Star in a
year or two if he keeps this up. Because remember
we're phasing out. You know in two years, is kd
at thirty nine gonna be a factor. I don't know
what do we have from Curry in two years? Where's
I mean, Lebron might be retired in two years, so
we're gonna have a bunch of new guys come up,
(03:18):
and these Thompson twins are good. But other than Thompson,
like Dylan Brooks struggled and he's still a goon. I
can't stand that guy. Sengoon struggled and he was not
even the Lakers didn't even play really a center last night.
Lebron had a monster block on him at the end
of the game. Fred van Vliet two of fourteen, Jalen
Green four of thirteen. I think he was benched down
the stretch. Total non factor. They went with Jabari Smith
(03:38):
and Tarry Easan, who I like both those guys a lot.
There's a lot on the team. They have seven strong players.
Cam Wanmore didn't even get in the game. I think
he's very good. Reed Shepherd they like a lot. I
think at some point you basically said to the Sun's hey,
other than Aman Thompson and probably Tarry Easton, who do
(03:58):
you want on our team? And the Sons obviously will
want to cut salaries significantly, so the one expiring deals,
my guess is they would want to get in on
the Reed Shepherd action. I don't know who the Rockets
are gonna have to give up, but they need an
offensive half court guy. They scored ninety eight points. I'm
just telling you now, I like the Rockets a lot.
If they face anyone other than the Grizzlies they're losing
(04:19):
in the first round, they'll probably be able to beat
the Grizzlies, who are not good at all and just
fire their coach. As for the Lakers, Ruy Hachi Mora
airball three late. Sometimes I feel like he's just out
there getting cardio. How are you six' ten occasionally playing?
Center Because Jackson hayes barely played and you get two
rebounds in thirty one. MINUTES i just don't get. THAT i,
(04:41):
Mean Gabe vincent goes oufter for twenty three minutes and
gets four, rebounds like he's hustling his butt. Off by the,
Way gab vinzit was huge with six. Threes The lakers
got twelve threes from their. Bench Drian Finney smith hit,
Six gabe hit. Six the Starters Luca lebron And reeves
combined to go thro for fourteen from. Three Tasson rui's
(05:02):
won for, six and it was a nightmare from the
starters for. Three that being, said they got the. Win
that's all the. Matters lakers now because obviously The lakers
are gonna be the story in The. West, sorry, okay,
See lakers are now What gabe back Of denver for the,
three and they are two games back Of houston for the.
(05:25):
Two So lakers trying to be on the heels of
The rockets as long as you don't have to face
okay see in the first. ROUND i think you're. Fine
that being, Said Golden state's coming. Strong The clippers And
timberwolves are playing. GOOD i mean we might see The
grizzlies fall into the, plane which would be a gift
for whoever gets the two seed or the one. Trying trust,
(05:48):
me The grizzlies are not. Good dallas starting to show
signs of, life although they had a tough. Loss was
It sunday or last? Night, no it was last. Night
they lost A.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Brook, yeah that. BAD i.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
SAW i saw a lot of minutes For, Drew timmy
remember The gonzaga a, leegend he had a he had
a nice little. Game and The. MAVs i'm still not
a believer despite a d being back and yeah this,
SEASON i don't believe When kyrie comes back in like eight,
months talk to. Me but as of now the play
in matchups would Be Timberwolves clippers for the. Seven that's
(06:24):
a that's a toss. Up those teams are both very
good And MAVs kings is an elimination. Game that again
and toss. Up i'll just Lean kings there Because i'm
really just out on The MAVs at this. Point, suns
you know they could still get, in but WITH kd
out at least a, week it's it's not looking good at. All,
anyways great win for The, lakers and they got a big,
one big One thursday against The warriors who were trying
(06:46):
to gain. Ground and Because cowherd was able to get
us Off, FRIDAY i can now maybe go to The
laker Game, thursday and so kind of sort of excited about. That,
anyways without further, ado let's get to our, Guest Sam
blum from The.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Aff Fox Sports radio has the best sports talk lineup
in the. Nation catch all of our shows at Foxsports
radio dot com and within The iHeartRadio app SEARCH fsr
to listen. Live you know a, Guy jason likes to
think he knows everything when it comes to. SPORTS i
know what sports fans, want but for everything he. Doesn't
(07:22):
he knows a guy who.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Does let's just SAY i know a guy who knows
the guy who knows another. Guy all, right let's welcome
into Straight, fire a first timer here on the. Podcast, now,
listen baseball just started last, week and holy, cow did
a massive story take over the entire. Weekend and to
talk torpedo. Bats Sam blum From The Athletic, sam how you, doing.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Man i'm, Good, jason are You i'm.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Excellent i'm intrigued by everything that's happened so far with
the torpedo. Bats make me aware because you WROTE i
think the definitive story on. Them when did they first
emerge on your?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
RADAR i, MEAN i think like for most, people it
was After Saturdays yankees And, brewers you, know they you,
know The yankees have twenty, runs not a franchise, record nine,
homers and it's you, KNOW i think it's an, interesting you,
know topic of conversation because that wasn't really like the
start of these. Bats you, know this is dated back
to you, KNOW i think really twenty twenty. TWO i
(08:19):
think we started seeing them in the big leagues maybe last.
Year Gehan Carlos stan use. Them so this is not
like necessarily a completely new. Revelation BUT i think what what,
happened you, know with That yankees game And Michael kay
talking about it on the, broadcast it brought it into
the public consciousness in a way that maybe we haven't
even come close to. Seeing AND i think for, PLAYERS i,
mean it's not just it's not just, fans it's. Not
(08:41):
that's what's most interesting about the story to me is
that this is a story that players are kind of
learning about in real time, too and it's going to
impact the game as we see it day to. DAY i,
think you, know this is something that we might see
evolved By, Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday so that to me is
what makes the story really. Fun.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Yeah and in your, article which is a great piece
of The, athletic it basically says The, twins there's a
guy who's been using, It Blue jays, players raised, players
so it's been, around but it didn't pop until The
yankees The Evil empire. Did do you think it has
something to do with The yankees being? INVOLVED i, think, well,
LISTEN i think part of it is The. Yankees you,
know the person who invented this. Tech, NO i would say,
(09:15):
technology because it's not really proprietary and it's not really.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Technology but the guy who really thought of this came
from The. Yankees so this was a you, know AN mit.
Professor i'm and it totally bought you, Know butcher the
pronunciation of his, name SO i won't even. Try but
this was you, know A, yankee Former yankees. Coach now
with The, marlins who you, know FORMER mit physics. PROFESSOR
i believe it's all that who you know created this this.
Idea and it's funny to me because, it's LIKE i,
(09:38):
said this is. Nothing there's something proprietary about, this, Right
it's just moving the barrel a little bit down on the,
bat which you know theory makes so much. Sense everyone's
kind of, like oh, yeah like that. Works, well you,
know this has been allowed. Forever so it's it's funny
to me that this is really becoming a, thing just
like in the Late march of twenty twenty, five that
we're all just learning about. It so, YES i think
(09:58):
to some, extent The yankees are going to you, know
draw the, eyeballs draw the. ATTENTION i think if this
had been The marlins doing it with this new you,
know we might be wouldn't be talking about it as.
Much but, YEAH i mean when you do it on
a team that Has Aaron, judge he's not who's not
even using the? Bat, uh you KNOW i think that
it it it creates you, know more public interest, maybe
(10:18):
but you, know this is something we've heard that The
cubs we're looking into this like last year as. Well
so this is it's you, know this is not something
that's completely out of out of thin. Air and and
you know also want to SAY i appreciate. You you know
you're crediting the. Story this was done by reporters all
across our, company really mean talking to. Players one of
the unique elements of the athletic having beat writers. Everywhere
so you, know it was a it was a cool
(10:40):
story and and you, know Just john don't want to
take all the credit for.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
It yeah, Obviously So, sam can you tell me how
the story? Happened like over the, weekend The yankees did
a billion homers and you, Know Michael kay mentions it
on the broadcast The New bats and at that point
social media starts TO i, mean it kind of swallowed
up The elite eight over the weekend and it was, like,
oh this is a big is that when you guys
put the wheels in. Motion, hey let's get reporters all
over the place to talk about.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
This, WELL i, mean maybe it's because The elite eight
has been was so. Boring that's a good, point but,
NO i mean, YEAH i mean that's like the, way
that's the way we operate. REALLY i mean it's, like you,
know people jump on big stories as they, happen and
we have reporters, everywhere so THAT i think that uniquely
put puts us in a unique position to talk to
guys and get kind of real time, uh you, know
(11:24):
information from from players all across the. Sport AND i
think that's what in a story like, this that that's
what's so. Cool. Uh you, know this story is just
so interesting to me because it's players learning about it
at the same time as. Reporters, really AND i think
in so many, situations like you, KNOW i talked to
multiple players yesterday who said this is the first they
were hearing about. It but then you got guys like
you said on The twins who maybe already knew about.
It and you, know one of THE i, WAS i
(11:44):
was In chicago yesterday with The White sox and The,
angels AND i talked To Nicki, lopez who had been
with The cubs in spring training and actually had one
of these. Bats he goes over to The angels and
none of The angel players even know about, it so
they're all talking to him about. It AND i think
that that's one of the interesting elements of this whole,
story is like players are learning about, it and apparently
like a lot of them are calling their agents trying
to get these, bats calling their bat, guys trying, to you,
(12:06):
know at least see what it's all. About you, KNOW
i think they could be overblown just how helpful these things.
Are probably it could, be. RIGHT i think over time
we'll see a sample size that we just don't have right,
now and nobody's really calculated right. Now but, yeah it will.
Be it will be something we'll learn about as the
days and makes to.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
COME i, mean IS i don't know if this is
comparable to in THE, nba The warriors And rockets started
just shooting a million three, pointers LIKE i don't, know
twelve fifteen years, ago just under the hey three is
worth more than. Two it's inefficient to shoot long, twos
and then everybody it's a. Copycat everybody starts copying even
within baseball With Billy bean And moneyball when they brought
(12:44):
that IN i don't know what early two thousands with The.
A's everybody then starts. Copying do you think that the
torpedo bats could be on that level of sea change
for the league or it's it's way too early to.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
TELL i think it could, be And i'm but my
question is, like, what you, know what's the impact you,
know because, YEAH i mean like if if if people
can hit more home, runs and it could and people
an offense can can be, uh you, know increased significantly
from the tech from these from these bats one hundred,
PERCENT i think that you might see it almost universally
like that's and that's just my, guess Right, LIKE i don't,
(13:16):
know AND i think it's still too, early maybe far
too early to say that that's what will happen, Here but,
YEAH i, mean like it's, interesting AND i think the
reason why it's resonating is because every you, know everyone
knows what a baseball bat looks, like right like this
this is an image of that people can kind, of you,
know have you don't have to like, baseball you don't
have to like sports even you just kind of know
what that looks. Like it's it's kind of transcends the
(13:38):
sport in a lot of. Ways but to have it
look just like a, torpedo have it, looked you, know completely,
DIFFERENT i think is a really fascinating. Concept AND i
think it's something that, yeah this could evolve, quickly and
it could evolve, significantly but again time will tell just
how how actual you, know the, numbers, uh you know play.
Out but, again like there have been players who have
(13:58):
been using this now for a little while and they've
seen some. Success the thing THAT i think is really
interesting is how will pictures, adjust because pictures adjust. Everything
and we talked with you, know one of my, Colleagues
david O'Brien talked With Matt olsen yesterday And, olsen you,
know really great you, know first basement for The Atlanta,
braves said that he expects maybe pictures will start to
(14:18):
run outside, more try to get contact off the ends
of the, beat which will result more out so you
might see PICTURE i mean. Pictures baseball is all about
the adjustments that everyone makes day to day and how
you adjust to you, know the new bat or how
you adjust to a shift or whatever it might. Be
AND i think that this is something that you, know
we're Not we're not just going to see a barrage
of homers because of. It i'm sure that right the
(14:39):
game will even itself, out as it always.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Does you mentioned the, shift and that was another. One
but the league quickly moved to remove the shift BECAUSE
i guess it was just too much of an advantage
and kind of depressed. Offense do you think, that and,
again it's too. Early we have a tiny sample, Size
but if all of a sudden we've got a billion home,
runs is the league and be, like, whoa we need
to outlaw these? Bats do you think that's even a
consideration or just way too?
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Early, well you, know part of it is like the
bat measurements are like collectively bargained agreements at this, point
so you, know we got two more years of this
at the very. LEAST i DON'T i don't know how
the league would have the and this just this is
me just kind of kind of reading between the lines
of like HOW i think this thing would play, Out
LIKE i can't imagine that the league would have even
the ability to just unilaterally say these bats are, barred
(15:24):
because you, know like when you talk about like the
sicky stuff on on pitchers, Hands like they just started
enforcing that, rule but that was always the, Rule like
pitchers could never have that stuff on their. Hands it
just became something AN mlb was. Enforcing this is these
are legal. Bats you, know they're they're within the. RULES
i THINK i forgot it's what the exact measurements. Are
but you, know this is within the. Rules SO i
don't think the league even has the ability until the
(15:46):
end of THE, cba which is after next, season to
make any, changes to collectively bargain any. Changes you, know
one of the players that was quoted in our, Story Jake,
cronenworth who is on you, know the union, subcommittee said,
that you, know seem to endorse these. Ideas, yeah maybe.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Trying so.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
For, now, LIKE i don't see HOW i think we're
gonna have a runway to see if this. Works and you,
know at some, point if the offense explodes to the
point where it's no longer competitive and the game is significantly, changed,
yet maybe there is an adjustment that the league will
opt to try and. Make BUT i think for, now you,
know they're just as intrigued as everyone.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Else, Yeah baseball's a sport where they really cherish the
old ways and the old school and like the twenty Seven,
yankees people talk more history with baseball than. Anything have
you gotten any pushback after your story from the, purests you,
know the fifty and up, crowd who are, like wait a,
minute this doesn't seem. Right are you seeing any pushback at?
All because change people are very resistant to.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
It, well if you're in the, story like we Quoted Ron,
washington Ys engles, manager and he's a you, know he's
an old school baseball, guy and he's, like well he
and he played baseball quite a while. Ago obviously he's
LIKE i think seventy three. Now but, YEAH i mean
that that was fascinating to me that he was just
LIKE i figured out how to you, know managed to
navigate like, ja like IF i didn't have to change
(17:01):
the barrel in my bed, Right like, yeah maybe there
maybe there's something to, that you. Know BUT i, mean for,
me Like i'm ALWAYS i was, against you, know like
banning the, Shift LIKE i always think that hitters and
pitchers in the game needs to adjust to what works
within the rules as opposed as banning. Things BUT i,
mean you, know if you're a baseball. PURIST i would
argue that this is exactly What this is a good.
THING i, mean this is within the, rules it's, working you,
(17:22):
know it's it's what's always been the, case and people
are just making you, know adaptations to be able to you,
know do their job. Better AND i think that's that's
exactly what baseball is all. About and so if they
were to ban, it that would be for me against
the baseball purist mindset at least.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Interesting Fox Sports radio has the best sports talk lineup
in the. Nation catch all of our shows At Foxsports
radio dot com and within The iHeartRadio app SEARCH fsr
to listen.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Live let me ask. You have a great quote From
Taylor word about how he had not heard of these
bats until they went viral over the. WEEKEND i, do you,
know LIKE i find it a little strange that this
has been kind of out there for a couple of,
years as the article, states but only now going. Viral
did a lot of people spined out about? It including?
Players did that surprise you at?
Speaker 3 (18:09):
All you, know it did a little, bit just that
there seemed to be this big difference between you, know
which teams knew about, It, like you, know will. VENTABLE
i no idea The White, sox and he was with
The Texas rangers last, year, right so like it's not
like he was with The White, sox who were obviously
like a struggling, organization you, know it's it seemed to
be kind of team to team that was aware of.
It AND i think maybe part of that, is you,
(18:29):
know partnerships with like bad companies or you, know it
could be any number of reasons why certain teams were
more aware of it than. Others but WHAT i WHAT
i my understanding is like multiple bat companies kind of
have this this, tech this new these new bats. AVAILABLE
i don't really think that you, know this is something
that's like the brainchild of like one, company, Right, like LIKE i,
(18:51):
said this is this, tech anybody can make these. Bats
like it's within the, rules there's nothing there's nothing that's
like patented about. It and so it will you, know
become part of the baseball, conscious you, know full, TIME
i think quite. Soon but, yeah a little surprising to
me that not everyone knew about. It, yeah these things get.
Around but, AGAIN i think the funniest part to me
is that like when this guy initially pitched it to The.
(19:11):
Yankees a lot of the players were, like, nah, like,
YEAH i don't like, this, like AND i think people
are resistant to. Change it's, like who's this nerd standing
in front of me telling ME i need to like
change my dat to like look like some weird torpedo. Thing,
yeah you, know and then all of a, sudden some
some smart players like figure out that it, works and
then it becomes a, thing and it's, like oh, man
The yankees just hitt nine home, Runs so, YEAH i
(19:31):
THINK i think part of that the reason people haven't
heard about it as much is because a lot of
players probably wrote it off when they first did hear about. It.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Yeah it almost feels like in life sometimes we're just
so used to one thing and the way it is
a baseball, bat you, know you don't, think, hmm how
COULD i make this more? Efficient, right everybody's been picking
up bats for the last you, know you're a young,
guy but, LIKE i don't, Know i've been swinging bats
for like forty. YEARS i never even, thought how can
we make this more? Efficient it's JUST i think it's
pretty cool To and this guy was a kind of
(19:57):
a non baseball, guy, Right he was like An mit
physics professor.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Something, yeah, exactly, SO i, mean you, know And Brendan
cutty had a good story On The athletic about this
guy in. PARTICULAR i mean it's, yeah it's this IS i,
mean smart organizations across baseball are are innovating in these
ways my, opinion, Right, LIKE i think that's partly why you,
see you, know teams like The, dodgers The, yankees like
like they're not just paying every free agent like they're
(20:20):
they're doing smart things behind the, scenes employing smart people
that can that. That you, KNOW i think, critically think you,
know big picture and think long, term and that's The
this is the product of smart people being in the
game and smart organizations doing the right. THINGS i, mean you,
KNOW i think when you look at other organizations like The,
rockies The, pirates The, angels, like, uh you, know teams
that haven't necessarily had, success The White sox Like marlins at.
(20:44):
TIMES i, mean The marlins are maybe unique situation because
they obviously have this. Guy but you, know, it's, uh you,
know you're not seeing necessarily that that type of innovation long.
Term you, know you're you're not seeing the type of
investment across the. Organization SO i think that you, know
this isn't AN i think that's WHAT i would say
is you have smart people in your. Organization they come
up with smart, ideas and it might take, years it
(21:05):
might take a, while but, ultimately like this is what
this is why the game.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Grows SO i THOUGHT i saw a stat that g
And Carlos stanton is one of like the big guys
who has had a massive increase in his bat velocity.
Swing if we start seeing these numbers for, everybody there's
no way that this doesn't become like a total seat
change around the, league.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Right, YEAH i MEAN i think With stanton he may
have you, know he was already kind of the hardest
swinging player in. Baseball that's. Fair, yeah, yeah, Yeah and but,
YEAH i, mean LIKE i, think you, know from what
we've talked, with from all people we talk, to, like you,
know some people say that they think it will increase bat.
Speed some people say that it. Won't some people say
that it won't increase bat, speed but it might increase
exit velocity. Overall so, OVERALL i, mean if you're increasing
your exit velocity even just a mile a mile and
(21:48):
a half on, average that's what fifteen extra hits a.
YEAR i mean some one of the players was. Estimating
so you, KNOW i think that's that like any advantage
you can get in BASE i, mean you know, baseball
like you, understand it's about it's about getting those fifteen
extra hits over one hundred and sixty two. Games it's
like any little thing that can make you a tiny
bit more, effective that can extend your career one more, year,
(22:10):
Right like that's what anybody's looking. For so in my,
opinion you, know it'll be interesting to see and one
of the other really fascinating elements to, me as you Mentioned,
stanton you, know one of the players we talked to
said that he didn't think this necessarily was for the big.
Sluggers like the sluggers might be are more prone to
hitting balls off the regular part of the. Barrel this
isn't necessarily something that we'll see those types of hitters,
do like An Aaron. Judge BUT i don't, know maybe
(22:34):
it's maybe maybe that's, right maybe that's, wrong BUT i
think that's something to look for and we get to
see Show Heyo, Tani Mike, trout like you, know the
big superstars in the game start to change their. Bets
maybe maybe.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
NOT i like how you phrased, it like over the
course of a, season fifteen extra, hits that's that's. Significant
very but it's almost like, gambling, Right so people, say, hey,
MAN i have a tiny edge AND i can go
up TO i can hit fifty nine percent of my,
bets and people are, like, oh that's that's not. Good
well over the long, haul and baseball is a long
what one sixty two, games like that's the longest season
of professional.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Sports not, BAD i mean.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Significant i'm fifty nine percent of gambling would be amazing
for a. Season but you, know it's just that small.
Edge BECAUSE i saw a. Stat well wait a, Minute
diskuy on The twins went over four using that. Bat i'm, like,
guys that that's one, Game like like can we track
up over the course of a.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Season you, know yeah, EXACTLY i, mean and you know
for four it can mean, anything, right it can mean
you hit the ball, harder certain play. Like it's just
it doesn't like it's like you, said like it's over
the course of the. Year that's what baseball is all.
About it's just like how do you? Perform any game
can give you absolutely no information but one hundred and
sixty two games gives you a lot of. Information SO
i think these, BATS i would throw out that That
yankees game On, saturday it doesn't really. Matter all it
(23:42):
did was created a conversation for people and SHOWCASE i
think what maybe this could mean for the. Game and
so we'll. SEE i mean IT'S i think that's all this.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Is we'll.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
See but you, know, again like if if players believe in,
it you'll see. It and it doesn't really matter how
actually effective it is if it's. Believed and we you,
know if you look at the last quote there From, jazzism,
right like he even, said LIKE i don't even know
if this works to some, Extent like in my head it,
works and so that for me is Why i'm doing,
it AND i respect. THAT i think that's exactly like
you know kind of what baseball, is, Right it's it's
(24:13):
a mental, game and it's about that those maybe that
one extra thing you can do right that can get
you an.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Edge i'll get you out of here on. This, obviously
you cover The angels very. Closely Mike trout is a
big buzzy. Name could The angels trade? HIM i know
it's early in the season long way to, Go but
any thoughts on Mister, trout who has obviously had an amazing,
career and there's it just seems like the chatters out
there that he could be.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
DEALT i don't think. SO i would be really, shocked
to be honest with. You and there's a lot of,
reasons but the main one is his contract isn't very
favorable for a. TRADE i think he also needs to
prove THAT i think that he can stay healthy and be,
effective which are things that he's not really done over
the last four years except for maybe twenty twenty. Two
so it's, just you, know it's been a long stretch
of like just not being really. Tradable HE'S i think
thirty to turn thirty four this, year If i'm not,
(25:01):
MISTAKEN i don't really see he's got six years left
on his. Contract this is the time when you wouldn't
be able to really trade, somebody and especially when they're
making you, know over thirty five million dollars a. Year
so unless The angels would eat a lot of that,
MONEY i don't see why they would do. That or
the only other SCENARIO i could really see, is you,
know if the team's really really bad and shouts like
AN mvp level good that there might be some interest
(25:24):
and that might be the right time to. Strike but even,
THEN i don't know how many teams would want to
take on that. Contract AND i think the best chance
he has of ever being traded is maybe the last
year of the, seconds last year of his, deal when
you maybe want to go, play you, know in The
phillies or someplace closer closer to The east coast where he's.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
From, So, sam do you prefer torpedo bats or bowling
pin as like a phrase for that.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Torpedo bats, MAN i, think, okay sounds, fun but you, know.
BOWLING i, mean we'll see even this this thing is
all just getting, started so it's gonna oh, yeah it's
just to be. Good all plays, out.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
All, Right Sam blum The athletic Great stuff read his.
Story thanks a, Lot.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Sam Thanks, jason appreciate.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
It
Fox Sports Radio News
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Jonas Knox
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