October 24, 2023 • 33 mins
Jason Smith and Mike Harmon talk with MLB Network Insider Jon Paul Morosi live from the NLCS in Philadelphia to react to the Rangers taking the ALCS and Dusty Baker reportedly calling it a career. Jason and Mike break down how the MLB postseason is completely different from what it was only a few years ago. Plus, the guys explain why Dusty Baker was the perfect manager for the Astros.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
Lea's get this you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Greetings, then welcome inside our three of The Jason Smith
Show with my bes friend Mike Harmon Hoobo live from
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Speaker 2 (00:50):
So.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
The Rangers are in the World Series as MLB Network
inside of John PALMERROSI. They're in the World Series for
the first time in forty two hundred days. The Rangers
knocking out the Astros, doing many baseball fans a favor.
All the Astros are out, ah, I feel so aw.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
This is one where I think it's like when the
Patriots are officially eliminated.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Now all of a sudden, like they rose up like
it is Halloween. There's a hand coming out of a
grave because they win, suddenly it's evil dead. Well yeah,
but I mean they beat the Bills yesterday and almost
like eh, I think some of that was Belichick showing
out when Rabel was talking about we in all that
celebration pregame. Wait a minute, you're not taking by job.
(01:35):
But yeah, the Astros losing. Outside of the actual Astros
fans and mattress Mac, I don't think anybody cares. I'm up,
you know, I think they're lamenting they're.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Major League Baseball. I think every average MLB fan is
glad they're out.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
No, I mean like nobody's lamenting the Well.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
You said don't care. I mean I think people care.
They want them to be It's like they want the
Yankees to be out. Except here's the difference, right the Yankees.
People want the Yankees out, can't stand the evil empire.
They win, But when they're out, you're missing something, right,
because you're missing the big deal. But for the Astros
it is different. Right, But as the Astras are such
a villain from the cheating scandal that people just don't
(02:15):
want to see them. It's different. It's not like people
are saying, oh man, the Astros aren't in the World Series.
I'm gonna miss no, No one's gonna miss them in
the World Series. The Astros are out. They're out. We
got rid of them. It's like, Okay, that's kind of
that's the difference, is it?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
But isn't there something better about them losing on the
biggest stage. But I guess if they get to the
biggest stage, you're saying, there's a chance they can still
win it.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
I don't want to risk that.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
So this way, we don't risk it and they go home.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
No risk it, no biscuit, a phrase that our next
guest knows all too well. He is in Philadelphia as
he anticipates Game seven of the NLCS, working the field,
working his magic, growing a beard like Bryce Harper and
all the other Phillies playing long hair. He is MLB
Network insider extraordinaire and guest Lions picker. Here on the show,
(03:05):
John Paul Morosi, the Pope JP. What's happening, buddy? How
are you good?
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Even to my friends? I'm outstanding. I really was fearful
that I had lost that second part of my job
description on this radio program because I believe that my
prediction of a comfortable Lions win from Sunday was just
barely not true. I just want a point or two.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
You have it.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
You set expectations and they failed to achieve them.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
It's not your fault.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
No, right, the game plan. The game plan was solid,
Just like I love the exchange between Marcus Freeman and
the member of them.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
That was good.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Yeah, coaching Marcus Freeman's son, that was great. I'm a
big fan of coach Freeman, very very classy man.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So and you're fine because now you're five and two
on your Lions picks issues, so you get to pick again.
This week we had.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Above five hundred, I'm above five hunderd. But guess what.
Guess what in the series and this is what we
call a transition here in the in the industry. In
the series that I'm covering, no one is above five hundred.
Because it is three and three and we're about to
find out tomorrow which National League entry will be visiting
the Texas Rangers in Arlington on Friday for Game one
(04:24):
of the World Series.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
All right, Well, let's start with the Rangers here before
we get into your series. In the NLCS, it looked
like the Rangers were going to walk away with it,
then it looked like the Astros are going to win it,
and the Rangers come out and when the last two games,
nobody wins a home game in this series, JP, how
can you make sense of the Alcs going into the
World Series? It seems impossible.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
It does, except for I'll say two things. Pitching was
at times impressive on each side, at times very inconsistent.
There was no real rhythm to the series with the
struggles of the starting pitching, So I would say out
of rhythm with respect the starting pitching, in rhythm with
respect to the bat of one Autolys Garcia, who was
(05:06):
just unbelievable at this stage. He does remind me in
some respects of the meteoric rise of his very close
friend Randy a Rose Arena a few years ago, where
it just looks like there's going to be big damage,
or in the case of the issue with Brian and Brady,
you big controversy when he needs it to play. He's
just someone that you cannot take your eyes off ab
(05:27):
on the field and listen, the Rangers acquired him, as
Jeff Passen reminded us all this evening on, they acquired
him via a cash transaction in the final days of
December in twenty nineteen. It was one of those deals
that is noted in small agate type in the newspaper
(05:50):
and might get two sentences in the sports briefs, but
was not at all a big deal. And the player
acquired by that method is the one who was the
ALCS MVP and is out shining all the guys that
signed three hundred million dollar contracts. It is just remarkable
and is why I love the game so much.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
We talk about the EBB and flow of things. The
e Braille suspension moved to next year. To me, JP
is just asinine. But watching him come in and then
immediately plunk a batter was part two of that. But
go back to Garcia for a moment when you got
runners on second and third and you decide to pitch
with him, pitched him instead of putting him on first base.
(06:29):
That one still doesn't make any sense. It doesn't register.
Down six to two, I would.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
Agree with that, and I think two it's going to
be a difficult offseason for the Astros. I don't know
what they're going to do with some of their key moves,
key personnel. Kyle Tucker is coming up on the point
where he needs to get an extension. Notably, Dusty Baker
does not have a contract for next year either, So
there's a lot of uncertainty right now. How does verl
(06:57):
enter age one more year on? Can they count on
mccullors next year? Does Brandley come back? There's a lot
of questions there, and ultimately those questions get a lot
more pressing when you don't win at all, and I
think that's where they're at right now. They had a
great team, I thought overall a great season. But for
a team that has made this their standard to fall
(07:19):
short of it, I think prompts a lot of questions. Yes,
in game management for sure, but to the larger extent,
I do think this organization is arriving at an inflection point.
The first full offseason for their GM Dana Brown, so
change could be coming to Houston while Texas their in
state rivals. They are on to the World Series. Young
Evan Carter, what a story he's become. It's their first
(07:42):
World Series games. The Rangers of more than four thousand
days going back to the fall of twenty eleven in
that classic World Series against the Saint Louis Cardinals.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
John Paul Moros the MLB Network Insider with us at
Jason Smith Show with Mike Carmen live from Thetireck dot
Com Studios. All right, well, JP, we actually got to
hit you with a little bit of breaking news here.
I know where it's coming at you for your first reaction,
but we've gotten reports from the Athletic and other sources
that Dusty Baker has expressed to multiple inside and outside
the Astros organization that this was his final season as
(08:14):
manager and he is going to walk away again. The
Athletic has this report just a couple of minutes ago,
Dusty Baker expressing to multiple inside and outside the Astros
organization that this year was his final season as manager.
Obviously that would be one big change, and I know
it's too early to say who they might get for
next year, but just this ride for Dusty Baker and
(08:35):
never getting a Game seven and it looks he's able
to win one. You know, we're gonna miss Dusty. Even
people that still don't like the Astros because of the
scandal it's hard to not like Dusty Baker, and you
know Baseball's going to miss him when he goes.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
They will, And I think that we have realized that
this was going to happen at some point, And again
to your point, it's preliminary reporting, but it's obviously been
well thought out by our colleague of the Athletics for
the reporting they've done there both channed the Roman Bridgeroli.
So I think with Dusty, I've got an amazing amount
of respect for him. He took that job when very
(09:11):
few people would have and when you think about what
Dusty's been able to achieve in his career, all he
did since taking that job was make the Alcs every
single year and he made the World Series twice, one
at once, which he really wanted to do obviously for
his career. And maybe he just knows that it's time
(09:31):
and if he does, he is going to to your point,
walk away in a fashion that made him beloved with
that organization and beyond, and really, to your point, was
probably the best ambassador that that organization could have ever
hoped to have as they went through the tumultuous return
following the revelation of the science dealing scandal. He's just
(09:55):
an amazing person and someone who I've learned a lot
from over time. All have enjoyed my conversations with him.
He's a treasure in the game, and I hope he's
still around it. I hope he Sobie stays. But if
this is it, then I certainly thank him for all
the impacts that he's made in a lot of different
people in the game, myself included one.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Heck of a run, no question about it. So Game
seven tomorrow, Arizona, Philadelicia getting after it. A couple of
youngsters on the hill get in price around two hundred
and fifty bucks JP.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
People excited for Game seven there in Philly.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
I can't wait. It's gonna be a lot of fun Tomorrow.
Brandon Fought, as you mentioned, goes for the Diamondbacks, Ranger
Suarez going for the hometown Philadelphia Phillies. And at this point,
I'll say this, I'm out of predictions for this series.
It's impossible to have a feel. I think the one
thing is that you know that you go back to
(10:50):
Game sevens, whether it's tonight or others. I think managers
often will be very aggressive in terms of using their bullpen.
You almost don't let your starting pitcher loo is the
game where if he doesn't have it, you are making
that move immediately. And by the way, Bruce Bochi of
course did that himself a little bit tonight, but he
did it in Game seven of the World Series back
(11:11):
in twenty fourteen. Tim Hudsons did he even finished the
second inning. So the starters, yes, Brandon fought and Rangers Suarez,
but that could very easily change as the day goes along,
where you probably are are going to your bullpen a
little bit early. I do think this is gonna be
Bryce Harper's first ever game seven. Think about that in
his career, the first ever game seven in the history
(11:32):
of the Philadelphia Phillies. Think about that. This organization has
been around for well over one hundred years. They've never
played a game seven. So it's just it's a really
rich time and from the history of the game to
think about what's gonna happen here. The Phillies have been
the favorite team, they're the deeper team, they're the more
star studded team, but they have not been able to
(11:53):
put away the Diamondbacks because of a combination of the
Phillies bullpen struggles and the Diamondbacks resiliency, opportunistic play. This
is the first game today in which they actually scored first,
so they've had to come back and win twice. They
won today. Really, they were in control from the very beginning.
Merrill Kelly basically pitched around Schwarber early and then found
(12:14):
a way to attack them late. It's a really really
interesting matchup, and I think in a lot of ways, guys,
all the pressure right now is on the Philadelphia Phillies.
They're the team that entered as the favorites. They've got
to try to find a way to win on home field.
They've got to get Bryce Arperdu's first potentially for him
his first World Series title. There's a lot on the line,
(12:34):
whereas the d Backs young, largely unproven, they are playing
with house money. My friends, it's gonna be a lot
of fun to watch tomorrow night.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
All right.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Lastly, JP, you can't get out of here that EASi.
I want to let you know I've electronically gone in
and stolen all the money you and your family have,
so your kids might not be able to go to
college because I'm gonna take your money and I'm gonna
go to Vegas and who am I betting on for
tomorrow night? The Phillies or the Diamondbacks? Member all the money?
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Yeah, your money, but you have to place the bet now.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
I get it back to you if I win. If not,
well then we're all out of luck. But who am
I betting on?
Speaker 5 (13:07):
I I don't know. I am I'm way, I'm wow.
I'm way too close to this one to give you
any sort of a rational lasser. I can't. I can't
do that. What I do know? I thought the last
question was going to be something along the lines of
if I was ready to step back in and resume
(13:27):
my wing team play calling duty leaguered Michigan football team
after all these revelations. Wow, I got to figure out
my gosh, that's a whole other Uh.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Well, I thought I thought you were the guy with
the cell phone in the standard JP.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
I thought that was you wearing the Michigan sweatshirt.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
There is I mean, guys, I've got so many questions
about this. I've got so many questions. I just I
don't know why this whole thing was created. I don't
know why the heck they felt the need to do this,
or how they thought they could get away with it.
(14:02):
I mean this, the whole thing is mind boggling. And
and and let me just remind everybody, this is just
the public service announcement from me. Okay, just remember this.
If you are the employee of a public university, remember
that emails by public employees are able to be obtained
(14:25):
through FOYA. Like it's all. It's all there, guys, So like,
whatever the heck you say, it's in there. It's in
the public domain. It's just it is remarkable the things
that happen there, guys, it really is. But anyways, it's
just one little note from one one person just wanted
to make that point.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
He's on Twitter at John Morosi. That is at John
morosei MLB Network Insider morning show host on Sternsy and
the Bear check him out tomorrow morning. He'll make all
kinds of predictions on there.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
Now.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Yeah, So did I say the bear really the bear
there in the Pope, I don't know. I don't know
why I said the.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
Bear the lions. The Lions play the bears on, thank you.
I don't think I'm responsible to know anything about the
bears until then.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
All right, all right, Tyson Bage, it will be there
and to warn you.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
All right, I'm studying the I think they're playing the uh,
the Lions are playing the Raiders. Who I believe. Someone
told me that the Raiders don't play at the LA
Coliseum anymore. Do you guys hear about this?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Well, they don't, nor did they play when they visited
Chicago yesterday.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
They play in San Diego. Now it's a weird. It's
a weird thing playing Sandy.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
I heard that there was a team in San Diego
that laughed, but then one of them came in so
that they play in San Diego. Okay, very good, I'll uh,
I'll check into the San Diego Raiders.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Got it all right?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Well, we'll talk to you JP tomorrow night after Game
seven of the NLC. Yes, a gain your official Lions pick,
so we'll get that.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
Oka't wait, guys, looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
We'll talk to you. If you like using debit over
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Discover Bank member fd. I see, well there's John Palm Morosi.
(16:13):
I'm too close to make a prediction. Woo. That's all.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
But that's you know, when you're calling a game and
you're you know, engrossed in it, you're not supposed to
make a prediction.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
No, that's true.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
You can analyze it to your blue in the face.
But when it comes to all right, so who's winning,
it's like, well, that's okay.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Coming up next, we will give you our prediction for
Game seven, because I know who's gonna win Game seven.
Not only that, I'll tell yes, Cleveland will win game
Congratulate you there you go. Not only that, I'll tell
you one thing that baseball fans we have to get
used to as the playoffs go on in this age
of the multiple wildcards twenty twenty three and beyond. So
(16:53):
we picked that multiple age wildcards. More from Monday Night Football,
the Vikings shocking win over the forty nine ers. Keep
it right here, Jason and Mike. This is Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike harmon weekdays at ten pm. Eastern seven
pm Pacific. This is Nickelback. This is Nickelback. Had to
Darren threaten him, didn't you? This is Nickelback No. Fox
Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
The Jason Smith Show with My best friend Mike Harmon
Live fromthtirec dot Com Studios. Tonight show brought to you
by Progressive Insurance. Progressive makes bundling easy and affordable. Get
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ATV and more all your protection in one plays Bundle
and Save at Progressive dot Com. So the Rangers are
(17:38):
in the World Series. Who will be joining them tomorrow?
As much as I'd like to see the Snakes, I'd
love to see that because then it would be a
stress free World Series where I wouldn't care who won.
Although watching Shureser bring all his kids on television doing
an interview a few minutes ago, a lot of run
for the kids. He's got more kids than innings pitched.
He had tonight. He had three kids on the set.
(17:59):
He went too in the thirds, you can't bring more
kids and you have innings pitch in the game.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
Yeah, but you two and two thirds in the deciding game.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
But you brought three kids. That's three kids. You're kind
of a big deal. No, no, you got eight outs.
You can't you're the start. Eight is enough you're supposed to? No, No, no,
it's a it's the postseason. At this point. You celebrate
every out you get. I mean, have you not talked
about the new baseball enough?
Speaker 1 (18:26):
All right, listen, we'll do this first, then since you
really want to get, and then we'll get to our
pick for the world to pick for tomorrow night. The
one thing that when you think about this is you're
defending Max Schurzer in his two and two thirds innings
pitch tonight as a starting pitcher and forty four pitches.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Now like you threw ninety five pitches in his secondy
start pack since his arm fell off.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Doesn't matter. He's pitching and he's sweaty, and.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
He gave you forty four. I'm the hardest working forty
four pitches ever. Did you see how much sweat was dripping.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
Off with him?
Speaker 1 (18:54):
He was he was sweating a lot. He was sweating
a lot.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I mean, even if he had sticky stuff on his hand,
it wasn't gonna work.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
You know. The thing that we have to get used
to now and again, there's more and more. I would
say there's more comparisons between baseball playoffs and the NCAA
tournament than there is baseball playoffs and anything else. And
we talked about how fans have to get used to
the new normal in Major League Baseball playoffs now that
(19:20):
the best teams aren't gonna come in and win because
of the added wild cards, the added rounds in the playoffs,
the hottest the best teams get in and the hottest
teams win. Right. The more teams you add into the playoffs,
the more chances there are to pulling upsets. Because in
a best of three, best of five, best of seven,
anybody can win. Anybody can get hot. So yeah, you
just have to get used to the fact that you're
(19:42):
not gonna see the best player the best teams all
the time because they're gonna get upset.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Now you want.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
To best of nine. In the olden days, I'll tell
you it wasn't best of nine. The socks would be cooked.
But I'll tell you I got a feel about Seacott tomorrow.
So you have to get used to the fact that
this is just the new norm for baseball playoff that
upset teams are going to win.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
This is not anything new, it's not crazy, it's not all.
It's not a failure by the Dodgers or anybody else
or the Orioles. This is you lose because everybody lost,
the big teams all. You're not taking failure away from us.
We work at sports talk radio in sports television. You know.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
Yeah, yeah, they're a great story. They're an underdone Oh
they got.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Hot whatever that.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
So you can still suck when you're one hundred win teams.
Not you're trying to make these guys feel better. What
are you trying to get out of?
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Bursting here and these guys so mad? Why you're yelling
like you're man at burshing Er and Steve de Seger.
You're staring at them and your eyes are popping out
of your because you're trying to miss all.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
Them of the sins and they're one hundred win Dodge.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
It's the glit, the Dodgers, the Braves, all the best.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Yeah, they suck when you shouldn't.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
They're gonna lose. You're gonna lose. That's gonna happen, not
every year, and some years the best team in the
regular season is gonna win the World Series. But when
you let more teams in, chances are you're gonna see
more upset teams get in because they're playing with no pressure.
They're gonna get hot for a series. Whatever it is,
we're gonna see. It can happen all the time. But
it's gonna be more of an even distribution. We're not
used to that because that's not the way major League
(21:05):
Baseball has been. It's always been the best teams get in.
And okay, if maybe an upset team wins, it's still
the wild card team with ninety five wins, So how
much of an upset can it be? Right, So we
gotta get that's just a new normal that everybody's got
to get used to. It's not gonna be a big
failure by one hundred win teams to lose. This is
how the playoffs going.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Now, Oh look at you. You just give them a
hug by the way out the door.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
The other thing that we have to get used to
is this is that think about baseball the last two, three,
four years where you get to game two of a
playoff series and a bullpen game is coming and starting
pitchers only go to in a third innings. Right, Maybe
it's it's a byproduct of the extra round of the playoffs.
(21:46):
But what's gone is the excellent level of baseball that
we are used to win the playoffs. We have been
used to up until the last few years. Now with
more wildcards, and we're used to great pitching matchups. It's
going to be a two to one game, heroics in
a ninth in and yes, sometimes we get a blow
out win, but we get great moments by a starting
pitcher and they go seven the Zach Wheeler game lass
(22:09):
or two days ago to give them the three to
two lead that was. That should be a game that
we get seven or eight of them in the playoffs,
but we don't needmore. It doesn't happen. We have to
get used to the fact that we're not gonna see
great baseball because baseball playoffs have become a war of attrition.
They become a marathon, and it's really the team left
standing at the end that hey, it was any means
necessary to win this game. It's a bullpen game in
(22:31):
game two, it's a bullpen game in game four. It's
allowing one pitcher to absorb a thirteen run inning in
Game six because I want to save everybody for Game seven.
That's what the baseball playoffs are. Now, they're not this. Hey,
look at these teams. We're seeing the best of the best,
and you're seeing the best pitchers getting the best of
the hitters, and maybe the hitters win a couple of
battles here and there, and it's low scoring games and
(22:52):
it's great defense. We just don't see that. The sharpness
is not there, the overall great level of play is
not there, and it's become it's become that war. We
don't get the great pitching matchups. Pitchers only go four innings.
Now we have to get used to the fact that
in the playoffs. Now, okay, now we're gonna see the upsets.
We're also not gonna see great baseball. And it's gonna
be whatever we need to win tonight is what we needed.
(23:14):
Whatever we need to win to run, doesn't matter if
it's a if it's something that's unexpected, if it's where
our pitcher happens to be able to go two innings.
But we bring in seven relievers who go pitch shut
out baseball, or they come in and they get blown up,
and we're now losing the series. We're gonna see that constantly.
Now we have to get used to that. Hey, the
fall classic that we're used to, the Fall Classic is
(23:34):
gonna be Oh, it's the fall hopeful classic. Maybe not
a classic, maybe less than a classic, maybe not an
instant classic, maybe less classical than you think, maybe not
even classic. Maybe it's jazz, maybe, maybe it's something. Maybe
it's extemporaneous music. Maybe it's a little bit of industrial music.
Maybe it's it's it's some kind of electronica. But it's
not the Fall Classic.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Yeah, I think it's just more the extension of what
we've seen in the regular season. Man, how many teams
rely on that strata because they don't have starters beyond
the first two guys in their rotation that can give
you five let alone get you seven wheeler. The other day,
that was your worst nightmare, Like, look at this guy,
that was a met I think the best start, most
(24:14):
consistent start, doesn't have a bunch of mound visits and
pauses and all of this getting in trouble. No, he's
cruising along and getting to the seventh That's why we
were watching with Merrill Kelly earlier. Right, we didn't have
time with John Palm Morosi, but the exchange when he
went to the dugout after getting pulled after five after
a great, great inning of work against Schwarber and Harper
(24:37):
and company. That he he goes and he's getting the
handshake like he's leaving the game.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
He's like what he made him leaving the game? I'm
dealing here.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
I just struck out three guys, man, don't you know
who I am? Like this whole thing where like he's
gonna get a sixth unless the decision is all right, emergency.
If I pitch you one morning today, there's no chance
in hell your arm is ready and break glass case
of emergency tomorrow. I guess that's where you go to it.
But we got one of those starts today in game six,
(25:07):
right oh for nine? You know you're heavy hitters for
Philly with four strikeouts in this game to force a
game seven. But yeah, I think it's more just the microcosmon.
It's something that we wring our hands for. Where baseball
is as a whole, right, where you go many a
team for a month at a time, or you don't
(25:27):
actually have a fifth starter. It's the anybody who wants
to grab the ball and get a start next to
their name, let's go and we start rolling through it,
and so we see the other side. In the playoffs
you sometimes grossly overmanage as well. Second inning, it's already
a guy on. You gotta get out, Like in a
(25:50):
normal regular season start is Christiana, Everyone's available. We're gonna
everybody tonight for an inning. Well, like Christian, have you
right gave up three runs? He was, he was obvious
beaten around, But does he necessarily leave most up? Nope.
It's like you're not even getting a chance to pitch
out of this. You've been misster October. You've been dominating
and dealing for us. Yeah, beat it, Gay seven, We're
(26:13):
done with you. So I think regular season you've seen
enough teams from payroll and just the way they structured
their squads and young pitchers that we're now just seeing
it extend into the postseason. And that might make you
feel a bit uneasy, But get used to it.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Twitter, and how about a fresca Mike get swollen down
the Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Carmon.
All Right, so now that you're getting we know these things,
you have to get used to the new normal. Now
in Major League Baseball, Playoffs. Who's joining the Raiders in
the World Series. I'd love to pick the Diamondbacks. And
I'm not doing this all right, quiz ty shirt, does
Cleveland play in the American or the National League? National?
(26:52):
Very good? So I'm not doing this to say, well,
if I'm right, I'm right, and if I'm wrong, the
team doesn't win. But I fully expect the Phillies to
be in the World Series. They're the better team than
the Diamondbacks. I know that there's a lot of pressure
on them, and the Diamondbacks, you know, despite not being
a good team, have found a way to stay in
it this far. But tomorrow Game seven, they have a
(27:14):
slight edge pitching with a starting pitching, but again, that
could go out after ning and a half. But I
have a hard time seeing the Phillies losing two games
at home. I had a bad feeling about tonight for them,
but I have a good feeling about them for tomorrow.
They'll get the big hits, They'll win tomorrow. I'm gonna
say Phillies win it like four to two, five to two,
something like that, and they go on to the World Series.
(27:35):
They're just too good a team to not win. Even
though you know they're not one hundred and ten win team.
They're the better team than the Diamondbacks by a long
shot in this playoff, and I expect them to show
it tomorrow night at home in Game seven.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Curiosity, if Fat can continue his great run of late
the last two starts, he's been good total of ten
innings pitched with eleven strikeouts, just four hits allowed, and
the key stat when you're be dealing with these boppers
zero walks allowed. That's gonna be key his control early on.
Can he stave off elimination from a Game seven in
(28:12):
the first two innings? Can you get into the second
round of it bats with that lineup before you have
to start going and pulling the strings, uh for the
the Diamondbacks and pitching coach and everything else. So I
think that's the key, And because it will vet you
and I know this is not great analysis, but it's
(28:34):
good for the show. If the Phillies advance. Yeah, oh look,
the Phillies are a bet. It's better for baseball. The
Phillies movee Well, but it's better better for the show.
Now you've got sus are on one side. No, but
then what I root for the Diamondbacks.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
I'd have no I don't want to root for the
film root for the Diamondback.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
You are the dimingas there's no way.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Fox Sports Radio. The Jason Smith Show with my best
friend Mike Harmon. We're live the Tirack dot Com studios.
We're one of the big stories hitting. After the ALCS
Rangers win Game seven, they win the last two in
Houston to go to the World Series. Did you pop
your champagne or any It's only going to the World Series.
(29:28):
It's not winning the World Series.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Wow, it's taking the Astros down.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
There are multiple reports from the Athletic other sources that
Dusty Baker will be retiring from Major League Baseball. That
has not been confirmed by Dusty, but the Athletic has
it again, couple other sources have it. And he talked
to the media a few minutes ago and talked about
his future and what is coming up next. And we're
gonna hear from Dusty for a little bit and then
(29:53):
tell you the biggest thing he's done since taken over
for the Astros, and it's not what you think. Let's
take a listen, Dusty, what did you say to you
players after the game?
Speaker 3 (30:01):
And when will you begin the process of evaluating what
you want to do for next year?
Speaker 6 (30:06):
Well, you know, I just told the guys I love them,
and I appreciate their effort and appreciate how they how
they go about their business and how professional that they are.
And I don't know, I haven't had time to evaluate
or think about my future because you know, I'm down
the list as far as you know, Like, I'm not
(30:29):
that kind of dude. I don't want to steal a
spotlight or anything from these guys, you know. I mean,
you gotta savor what we did. You got to think
about how we can get better, and then I'll evaluate
my situation in my life, you know, and so you know,
we'll see. I'll talk to my daughter. I got two
(30:51):
grand sons year and a half. I mean, I've really
sort of cheated them for my quest for another ring.
You know, I got two dogs, hunting dogs a year old.
They wouldn't even know me when I walk in the
house because I haven't been home since February the tamp Dusty.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Just me, wow, let me go. Telement's me, honey. Look
Dusty obviously, and you heard him say, I don't want
to take away from the players, So maybe he is
eschewing this official announcement because doesn't want to take away
from the team. And that's who Dusty is, right. I
don't want to do it the night and suddenly make
it about me when we just got knocked out of
the playoffs. So yes, I believe all the reports out
(31:39):
of the athletic Dusty hinting around it. Probably won't say
anything official for a day or two, but I will
say this. He did something that I didn't think was possible,
and it was the smartest thing the Astros did.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
They have one World Series with him, They got to
the ALCS Game seven with him again this year. They
sure as hell hired the right guy coming out of
their scandal. They hired the right guy because Dusty is
one of the most liked, well respected guys in baseball
and they knew we need someone like that to be
the new face of our organization. It can't be an
(32:11):
up and coming manager, it can't be something Hey, smart analytics,
you can't know. He's got to be somebody that Baseball
genuinely loves, because that's the face we need to put
on this organization. We can, we can kind of live
with the being the villains, that's fine, but to live
with that every single day, we need someone to help
us with that image. And Dusty was that guy. He
was the right guy to hire, and he brought him
(32:31):
a World Series, So yeah, mission accomplished.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
I remember when he got hired and we were on
air and we were discussing it, you know, just talking
about from a baseball perspective. You know, you got a
guy like him, or would they make Joe Tory go
be manager again? You know, guys that were universally respected
with long skin in the game and you know, the
reputation for doing things right right. We can go back
(32:55):
and just last week commemorated the anniversary of Bartment and
all that stuff and people grousing about it like that
was another one of his game sevens that are on
the list of losses. But even with that team, bringing
a bunch of young guys along, teaching them how to
play whatever, with these astros, you had some stars, but
how to just keep going about your business amid all
(33:16):
the noise, knowing that anybody that cycled in they were
gonna become part of the incoming right, they were gonna
get some of that firing upon putting that uniform on,
and he wore it well, so go enjoy the time
with the hunting dogs.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Smartest thing they did, best result for him. He wins.
And now you now he's got to walk in very
slowly that house. Though. Hey it's me. I got treats.
I got treats. I got treats.
Speaker 4 (33:40):
Well, just like we.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Always say, you gotta fire the coach, you know, you
gotta have a fall guy. He was the guy that
came in and said, I'll wear it for you. Coming
up next, a play by play call for Monday Night Football.
You absolutely have to hear Fox
Thanks for listening to The Jason Smith Show with Mike
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
Lea's get this you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Greetings, then welcome inside our three of The Jason Smith
Show with my bes friend Mike Harmon Hoobo live from
the Tiraq dot Com studios tirack dot com. I'll help
you get there an unmatched selection, fast free shipping, free
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Speaker 2 (00:50):
So.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
The Rangers are in the World Series as MLB Network
inside of John PALMERROSI. They're in the World Series for
the first time in forty two hundred days. The Rangers
knocking out the Astros, doing many baseball fans a favor.
All the Astros are out, ah, I feel so aw.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
This is one where I think it's like when the
Patriots are officially eliminated.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Now all of a sudden, like they rose up like
it is Halloween. There's a hand coming out of a
grave because they win, suddenly it's evil dead. Well yeah,
but I mean they beat the Bills yesterday and almost
like eh, I think some of that was Belichick showing
out when Rabel was talking about we in all that
celebration pregame. Wait a minute, you're not taking by job.
(01:35):
But yeah, the Astros losing. Outside of the actual Astros
fans and mattress Mac, I don't think anybody cares. I'm up,
you know, I think they're lamenting they're.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Major League Baseball. I think every average MLB fan is
glad they're out.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
No, I mean like nobody's lamenting the Well.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
You said don't care. I mean I think people care.
They want them to be It's like they want the
Yankees to be out. Except here's the difference, right the Yankees.
People want the Yankees out, can't stand the evil empire.
They win, But when they're out, you're missing something, right,
because you're missing the big deal. But for the Astros
it is different. Right, But as the Astras are such
a villain from the cheating scandal that people just don't
(02:15):
want to see them. It's different. It's not like people
are saying, oh man, the Astros aren't in the World Series.
I'm gonna miss no, No one's gonna miss them in
the World Series. The Astros are out. They're out. We
got rid of them. It's like, Okay, that's kind of
that's the difference, is it?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
But isn't there something better about them losing on the
biggest stage. But I guess if they get to the
biggest stage, you're saying, there's a chance they can still
win it.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
I don't want to risk that.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
So this way, we don't risk it and they go home.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
No risk it, no biscuit, a phrase that our next
guest knows all too well. He is in Philadelphia as
he anticipates Game seven of the NLCS, working the field,
working his magic, growing a beard like Bryce Harper and
all the other Phillies playing long hair. He is MLB
Network insider extraordinaire and guest Lions picker. Here on the show,
(03:05):
John Paul Morosi, the Pope JP. What's happening, buddy? How
are you good?
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Even to my friends? I'm outstanding. I really was fearful
that I had lost that second part of my job
description on this radio program because I believe that my
prediction of a comfortable Lions win from Sunday was just
barely not true. I just want a point or two.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
You have it.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
You set expectations and they failed to achieve them.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
It's not your fault.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
No, right, the game plan. The game plan was solid,
Just like I love the exchange between Marcus Freeman and
the member of them.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
That was good.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Yeah, coaching Marcus Freeman's son, that was great. I'm a
big fan of coach Freeman, very very classy man.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So and you're fine because now you're five and two
on your Lions picks issues, so you get to pick again.
This week we had.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Above five hundred, I'm above five hunderd. But guess what.
Guess what in the series and this is what we
call a transition here in the in the industry. In
the series that I'm covering, no one is above five hundred.
Because it is three and three and we're about to
find out tomorrow which National League entry will be visiting
the Texas Rangers in Arlington on Friday for Game one
(04:24):
of the World Series.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
All right, Well, let's start with the Rangers here before
we get into your series. In the NLCS, it looked
like the Rangers were going to walk away with it,
then it looked like the Astros are going to win it,
and the Rangers come out and when the last two games,
nobody wins a home game in this series, JP, how
can you make sense of the Alcs going into the
World Series? It seems impossible.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
It does, except for I'll say two things. Pitching was
at times impressive on each side, at times very inconsistent.
There was no real rhythm to the series with the
struggles of the starting pitching, So I would say out
of rhythm with respect the starting pitching, in rhythm with
respect to the bat of one Autolys Garcia, who was
(05:06):
just unbelievable at this stage. He does remind me in
some respects of the meteoric rise of his very close
friend Randy a Rose Arena a few years ago, where
it just looks like there's going to be big damage,
or in the case of the issue with Brian and Brady,
you big controversy when he needs it to play. He's
just someone that you cannot take your eyes off ab
(05:27):
on the field and listen, the Rangers acquired him, as
Jeff Passen reminded us all this evening on, they acquired
him via a cash transaction in the final days of
December in twenty nineteen. It was one of those deals
that is noted in small agate type in the newspaper
(05:50):
and might get two sentences in the sports briefs, but
was not at all a big deal. And the player
acquired by that method is the one who was the
ALCS MVP and is out shining all the guys that
signed three hundred million dollar contracts. It is just remarkable
and is why I love the game so much.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
We talk about the EBB and flow of things. The
e Braille suspension moved to next year. To me, JP
is just asinine. But watching him come in and then
immediately plunk a batter was part two of that. But
go back to Garcia for a moment when you got
runners on second and third and you decide to pitch
with him, pitched him instead of putting him on first base.
(06:29):
That one still doesn't make any sense. It doesn't register.
Down six to two, I would.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
Agree with that, and I think two it's going to
be a difficult offseason for the Astros. I don't know
what they're going to do with some of their key moves,
key personnel. Kyle Tucker is coming up on the point
where he needs to get an extension. Notably, Dusty Baker
does not have a contract for next year either, So
there's a lot of uncertainty right now. How does verl
(06:57):
enter age one more year on? Can they count on
mccullors next year? Does Brandley come back? There's a lot
of questions there, and ultimately those questions get a lot
more pressing when you don't win at all, and I
think that's where they're at right now. They had a
great team, I thought overall a great season. But for
a team that has made this their standard to fall
(07:19):
short of it, I think prompts a lot of questions. Yes,
in game management for sure, but to the larger extent,
I do think this organization is arriving at an inflection point.
The first full offseason for their GM Dana Brown, so
change could be coming to Houston while Texas their in
state rivals. They are on to the World Series. Young
Evan Carter, what a story he's become. It's their first
(07:42):
World Series games. The Rangers of more than four thousand
days going back to the fall of twenty eleven in
that classic World Series against the Saint Louis Cardinals.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
John Paul Moros the MLB Network Insider with us at
Jason Smith Show with Mike Carmen live from Thetireck dot
Com Studios. All right, well, JP, we actually got to
hit you with a little bit of breaking news here.
I know where it's coming at you for your first reaction,
but we've gotten reports from the Athletic and other sources
that Dusty Baker has expressed to multiple inside and outside
the Astros organization that this was his final season as
(08:14):
manager and he is going to walk away again. The
Athletic has this report just a couple of minutes ago,
Dusty Baker expressing to multiple inside and outside the Astros
organization that this year was his final season as manager.
Obviously that would be one big change, and I know
it's too early to say who they might get for
next year, but just this ride for Dusty Baker and
(08:35):
never getting a Game seven and it looks he's able
to win one. You know, we're gonna miss Dusty. Even
people that still don't like the Astros because of the
scandal it's hard to not like Dusty Baker, and you
know Baseball's going to miss him when he goes.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
They will, And I think that we have realized that
this was going to happen at some point, And again
to your point, it's preliminary reporting, but it's obviously been
well thought out by our colleague of the Athletics for
the reporting they've done there both channed the Roman Bridgeroli.
So I think with Dusty, I've got an amazing amount
of respect for him. He took that job when very
(09:11):
few people would have and when you think about what
Dusty's been able to achieve in his career, all he
did since taking that job was make the Alcs every
single year and he made the World Series twice, one
at once, which he really wanted to do obviously for
his career. And maybe he just knows that it's time
(09:31):
and if he does, he is going to to your point,
walk away in a fashion that made him beloved with
that organization and beyond, and really, to your point, was
probably the best ambassador that that organization could have ever
hoped to have as they went through the tumultuous return
following the revelation of the science dealing scandal. He's just
(09:55):
an amazing person and someone who I've learned a lot
from over time. All have enjoyed my conversations with him.
He's a treasure in the game, and I hope he's
still around it. I hope he Sobie stays. But if
this is it, then I certainly thank him for all
the impacts that he's made in a lot of different
people in the game, myself included one.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Heck of a run, no question about it. So Game
seven tomorrow, Arizona, Philadelicia getting after it. A couple of
youngsters on the hill get in price around two hundred
and fifty bucks JP.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
People excited for Game seven there in Philly.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
I can't wait. It's gonna be a lot of fun Tomorrow.
Brandon Fought, as you mentioned, goes for the Diamondbacks, Ranger
Suarez going for the hometown Philadelphia Phillies. And at this point,
I'll say this, I'm out of predictions for this series.
It's impossible to have a feel. I think the one
thing is that you know that you go back to
(10:50):
Game sevens, whether it's tonight or others. I think managers
often will be very aggressive in terms of using their bullpen.
You almost don't let your starting pitcher loo is the
game where if he doesn't have it, you are making
that move immediately. And by the way, Bruce Bochi of
course did that himself a little bit tonight, but he
did it in Game seven of the World Series back
(11:11):
in twenty fourteen. Tim Hudsons did he even finished the
second inning. So the starters, yes, Brandon fought and Rangers Suarez,
but that could very easily change as the day goes along,
where you probably are are going to your bullpen a
little bit early. I do think this is gonna be
Bryce Harper's first ever game seven. Think about that in
his career, the first ever game seven in the history
(11:32):
of the Philadelphia Phillies. Think about that. This organization has
been around for well over one hundred years. They've never
played a game seven. So it's just it's a really
rich time and from the history of the game to
think about what's gonna happen here. The Phillies have been
the favorite team, they're the deeper team, they're the more
star studded team, but they have not been able to
(11:53):
put away the Diamondbacks because of a combination of the
Phillies bullpen struggles and the Diamondbacks resiliency, opportunistic play. This
is the first game today in which they actually scored first,
so they've had to come back and win twice. They
won today. Really, they were in control from the very beginning.
Merrill Kelly basically pitched around Schwarber early and then found
(12:14):
a way to attack them late. It's a really really
interesting matchup, and I think in a lot of ways, guys,
all the pressure right now is on the Philadelphia Phillies.
They're the team that entered as the favorites. They've got
to try to find a way to win on home field.
They've got to get Bryce Arperdu's first potentially for him
his first World Series title. There's a lot on the line,
(12:34):
whereas the d Backs young, largely unproven, they are playing
with house money. My friends, it's gonna be a lot
of fun to watch tomorrow night.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
All right.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Lastly, JP, you can't get out of here that EASi.
I want to let you know I've electronically gone in
and stolen all the money you and your family have,
so your kids might not be able to go to
college because I'm gonna take your money and I'm gonna
go to Vegas and who am I betting on for
tomorrow night? The Phillies or the Diamondbacks? Member all the money?
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Yeah, your money, but you have to place the bet now.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
I get it back to you if I win. If not,
well then we're all out of luck. But who am
I betting on?
Speaker 5 (13:07):
I I don't know. I am I'm way, I'm wow.
I'm way too close to this one to give you
any sort of a rational lasser. I can't. I can't
do that. What I do know? I thought the last
question was going to be something along the lines of
if I was ready to step back in and resume
(13:27):
my wing team play calling duty leaguered Michigan football team
after all these revelations. Wow, I got to figure out
my gosh, that's a whole other Uh.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Well, I thought I thought you were the guy with
the cell phone in the standard JP.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
I thought that was you wearing the Michigan sweatshirt.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
There is I mean, guys, I've got so many questions
about this. I've got so many questions. I just I
don't know why this whole thing was created. I don't
know why the heck they felt the need to do this,
or how they thought they could get away with it.
(14:02):
I mean this, the whole thing is mind boggling. And
and and let me just remind everybody, this is just
the public service announcement from me. Okay, just remember this.
If you are the employee of a public university, remember
that emails by public employees are able to be obtained
(14:25):
through FOYA. Like it's all. It's all there, guys, So like,
whatever the heck you say, it's in there. It's in
the public domain. It's just it is remarkable the things
that happen there, guys, it really is. But anyways, it's
just one little note from one one person just wanted
to make that point.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
He's on Twitter at John Morosi. That is at John
morosei MLB Network Insider morning show host on Sternsy and
the Bear check him out tomorrow morning. He'll make all
kinds of predictions on there.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
Now.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Yeah, So did I say the bear really the bear
there in the Pope, I don't know. I don't know
why I said the.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
Bear the lions. The Lions play the bears on, thank you.
I don't think I'm responsible to know anything about the
bears until then.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
All right, all right, Tyson Bage, it will be there
and to warn you.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
All right, I'm studying the I think they're playing the uh,
the Lions are playing the Raiders. Who I believe. Someone
told me that the Raiders don't play at the LA
Coliseum anymore. Do you guys hear about this?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Well, they don't, nor did they play when they visited
Chicago yesterday.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
They play in San Diego. Now it's a weird. It's
a weird thing playing Sandy.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
I heard that there was a team in San Diego
that laughed, but then one of them came in so
that they play in San Diego. Okay, very good, I'll uh,
I'll check into the San Diego Raiders.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Got it all right?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Well, we'll talk to you JP tomorrow night after Game
seven of the NLC. Yes, a gain your official Lions pick,
so we'll get that.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
Oka't wait, guys, looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
We'll talk to you. If you like using debit over
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Discover Bank member fd. I see, well there's John Palm Morosi.
(16:13):
I'm too close to make a prediction. Woo. That's all.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
But that's you know, when you're calling a game and
you're you know, engrossed in it, you're not supposed to
make a prediction.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
No, that's true.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
You can analyze it to your blue in the face.
But when it comes to all right, so who's winning,
it's like, well, that's okay.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Coming up next, we will give you our prediction for
Game seven, because I know who's gonna win Game seven.
Not only that, I'll tell yes, Cleveland will win game
Congratulate you there you go. Not only that, I'll tell
you one thing that baseball fans we have to get
used to as the playoffs go on in this age
of the multiple wildcards twenty twenty three and beyond. So
(16:53):
we picked that multiple age wildcards. More from Monday Night Football,
the Vikings shocking win over the forty nine ers. Keep
it right here, Jason and Mike. This is Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike harmon weekdays at ten pm. Eastern seven
pm Pacific. This is Nickelback. This is Nickelback. Had to
Darren threaten him, didn't you? This is Nickelback No. Fox
Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
The Jason Smith Show with My best friend Mike Harmon
Live fromthtirec dot Com Studios. Tonight show brought to you
by Progressive Insurance. Progressive makes bundling easy and affordable. Get
a multi policy discount by combining your motorcycle, RV, boat,
ATV and more all your protection in one plays Bundle
and Save at Progressive dot Com. So the Rangers are
(17:38):
in the World Series. Who will be joining them tomorrow?
As much as I'd like to see the Snakes, I'd
love to see that because then it would be a
stress free World Series where I wouldn't care who won.
Although watching Shureser bring all his kids on television doing
an interview a few minutes ago, a lot of run
for the kids. He's got more kids than innings pitched.
He had tonight. He had three kids on the set.
(17:59):
He went too in the thirds, you can't bring more
kids and you have innings pitch in the game.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
Yeah, but you two and two thirds in the deciding game.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
But you brought three kids. That's three kids. You're kind
of a big deal. No, no, you got eight outs.
You can't you're the start. Eight is enough you're supposed to? No, No, no,
it's a it's the postseason. At this point. You celebrate
every out you get. I mean, have you not talked
about the new baseball enough?
Speaker 1 (18:26):
All right, listen, we'll do this first, then since you
really want to get, and then we'll get to our
pick for the world to pick for tomorrow night. The
one thing that when you think about this is you're
defending Max Schurzer in his two and two thirds innings
pitch tonight as a starting pitcher and forty four pitches.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Now like you threw ninety five pitches in his secondy
start pack since his arm fell off.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Doesn't matter. He's pitching and he's sweaty, and.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
He gave you forty four. I'm the hardest working forty
four pitches ever. Did you see how much sweat was dripping.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
Off with him?
Speaker 1 (18:54):
He was he was sweating a lot. He was sweating
a lot.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I mean, even if he had sticky stuff on his hand,
it wasn't gonna work.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
You know. The thing that we have to get used
to now and again, there's more and more. I would
say there's more comparisons between baseball playoffs and the NCAA
tournament than there is baseball playoffs and anything else. And
we talked about how fans have to get used to
the new normal in Major League Baseball playoffs now that
(19:20):
the best teams aren't gonna come in and win because
of the added wild cards, the added rounds in the playoffs,
the hottest the best teams get in and the hottest
teams win. Right. The more teams you add into the playoffs,
the more chances there are to pulling upsets. Because in
a best of three, best of five, best of seven,
anybody can win. Anybody can get hot. So yeah, you
just have to get used to the fact that you're
(19:42):
not gonna see the best player the best teams all
the time because they're gonna get upset.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Now you want.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
To best of nine. In the olden days, I'll tell
you it wasn't best of nine. The socks would be cooked.
But I'll tell you I got a feel about Seacott tomorrow.
So you have to get used to the fact that
this is just the new norm for baseball playoff that
upset teams are going to win.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
This is not anything new, it's not crazy, it's not all.
It's not a failure by the Dodgers or anybody else
or the Orioles. This is you lose because everybody lost,
the big teams all. You're not taking failure away from us.
We work at sports talk radio in sports television. You know.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
Yeah, yeah, they're a great story. They're an underdone Oh
they got.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Hot whatever that.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
So you can still suck when you're one hundred win teams.
Not you're trying to make these guys feel better. What
are you trying to get out of?
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Bursting here and these guys so mad? Why you're yelling
like you're man at burshing Er and Steve de Seger.
You're staring at them and your eyes are popping out
of your because you're trying to miss all.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
Them of the sins and they're one hundred win Dodge.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
It's the glit, the Dodgers, the Braves, all the best.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Yeah, they suck when you shouldn't.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
They're gonna lose. You're gonna lose. That's gonna happen, not
every year, and some years the best team in the
regular season is gonna win the World Series. But when
you let more teams in, chances are you're gonna see
more upset teams get in because they're playing with no pressure.
They're gonna get hot for a series. Whatever it is,
we're gonna see. It can happen all the time. But
it's gonna be more of an even distribution. We're not
used to that because that's not the way major League
(21:05):
Baseball has been. It's always been the best teams get in.
And okay, if maybe an upset team wins, it's still
the wild card team with ninety five wins, So how
much of an upset can it be? Right, So we
gotta get that's just a new normal that everybody's got
to get used to. It's not gonna be a big
failure by one hundred win teams to lose. This is
how the playoffs going.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Now, Oh look at you. You just give them a
hug by the way out the door.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
The other thing that we have to get used to
is this is that think about baseball the last two, three,
four years where you get to game two of a
playoff series and a bullpen game is coming and starting
pitchers only go to in a third innings. Right, Maybe
it's it's a byproduct of the extra round of the playoffs.
(21:46):
But what's gone is the excellent level of baseball that
we are used to win the playoffs. We have been
used to up until the last few years. Now with
more wildcards, and we're used to great pitching matchups. It's
going to be a two to one game, heroics in
a ninth in and yes, sometimes we get a blow
out win, but we get great moments by a starting
pitcher and they go seven the Zach Wheeler game lass
(22:09):
or two days ago to give them the three to
two lead that was. That should be a game that
we get seven or eight of them in the playoffs,
but we don't needmore. It doesn't happen. We have to
get used to the fact that we're not gonna see
great baseball because baseball playoffs have become a war of attrition.
They become a marathon, and it's really the team left
standing at the end that hey, it was any means
necessary to win this game. It's a bullpen game in
(22:31):
game two, it's a bullpen game in game four. It's
allowing one pitcher to absorb a thirteen run inning in
Game six because I want to save everybody for Game seven.
That's what the baseball playoffs are. Now, they're not this. Hey,
look at these teams. We're seeing the best of the best,
and you're seeing the best pitchers getting the best of
the hitters, and maybe the hitters win a couple of
battles here and there, and it's low scoring games and
(22:52):
it's great defense. We just don't see that. The sharpness
is not there, the overall great level of play is
not there, and it's become it's become that war. We
don't get the great pitching matchups. Pitchers only go four innings.
Now we have to get used to the fact that
in the playoffs. Now, okay, now we're gonna see the upsets.
We're also not gonna see great baseball. And it's gonna
be whatever we need to win tonight is what we needed.
(23:14):
Whatever we need to win to run, doesn't matter if
it's a if it's something that's unexpected, if it's where
our pitcher happens to be able to go two innings.
But we bring in seven relievers who go pitch shut
out baseball, or they come in and they get blown up,
and we're now losing the series. We're gonna see that constantly.
Now we have to get used to that. Hey, the
fall classic that we're used to, the Fall Classic is
(23:34):
gonna be Oh, it's the fall hopeful classic. Maybe not
a classic, maybe less than a classic, maybe not an
instant classic, maybe less classical than you think, maybe not
even classic. Maybe it's jazz, maybe, maybe it's something. Maybe
it's extemporaneous music. Maybe it's a little bit of industrial music.
Maybe it's it's it's some kind of electronica. But it's
not the Fall Classic.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Yeah, I think it's just more the extension of what
we've seen in the regular season. Man, how many teams
rely on that strata because they don't have starters beyond
the first two guys in their rotation that can give
you five let alone get you seven wheeler. The other day,
that was your worst nightmare, Like, look at this guy,
that was a met I think the best start, most
(24:14):
consistent start, doesn't have a bunch of mound visits and
pauses and all of this getting in trouble. No, he's
cruising along and getting to the seventh That's why we
were watching with Merrill Kelly earlier. Right, we didn't have
time with John Palm Morosi, but the exchange when he
went to the dugout after getting pulled after five after
a great, great inning of work against Schwarber and Harper
(24:37):
and company. That he he goes and he's getting the
handshake like he's leaving the game.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
He's like what he made him leaving the game? I'm
dealing here.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
I just struck out three guys, man, don't you know
who I am? Like this whole thing where like he's
gonna get a sixth unless the decision is all right, emergency.
If I pitch you one morning today, there's no chance
in hell your arm is ready and break glass case
of emergency tomorrow. I guess that's where you go to it.
But we got one of those starts today in game six,
(25:07):
right oh for nine? You know you're heavy hitters for
Philly with four strikeouts in this game to force a
game seven. But yeah, I think it's more just the microcosmon.
It's something that we wring our hands for. Where baseball
is as a whole, right, where you go many a
team for a month at a time, or you don't
(25:27):
actually have a fifth starter. It's the anybody who wants
to grab the ball and get a start next to
their name, let's go and we start rolling through it,
and so we see the other side. In the playoffs
you sometimes grossly overmanage as well. Second inning, it's already
a guy on. You gotta get out, Like in a
(25:50):
normal regular season start is Christiana, Everyone's available. We're gonna
everybody tonight for an inning. Well, like Christian, have you
right gave up three runs? He was, he was obvious
beaten around, But does he necessarily leave most up? Nope.
It's like you're not even getting a chance to pitch
out of this. You've been misster October. You've been dominating
and dealing for us. Yeah, beat it, Gay seven, We're
(26:13):
done with you. So I think regular season you've seen
enough teams from payroll and just the way they structured
their squads and young pitchers that we're now just seeing
it extend into the postseason. And that might make you
feel a bit uneasy, But get used to it.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Twitter, and how about a fresca Mike get swollen down
the Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Carmon.
All Right, so now that you're getting we know these things,
you have to get used to the new normal. Now
in Major League Baseball, Playoffs. Who's joining the Raiders in
the World Series. I'd love to pick the Diamondbacks. And
I'm not doing this all right, quiz ty shirt, does
Cleveland play in the American or the National League? National?
(26:52):
Very good? So I'm not doing this to say, well,
if I'm right, I'm right, and if I'm wrong, the
team doesn't win. But I fully expect the Phillies to
be in the World Series. They're the better team than
the Diamondbacks. I know that there's a lot of pressure
on them, and the Diamondbacks, you know, despite not being
a good team, have found a way to stay in
it this far. But tomorrow Game seven, they have a
(27:14):
slight edge pitching with a starting pitching, but again, that
could go out after ning and a half. But I
have a hard time seeing the Phillies losing two games
at home. I had a bad feeling about tonight for them,
but I have a good feeling about them for tomorrow.
They'll get the big hits, They'll win tomorrow. I'm gonna
say Phillies win it like four to two, five to two,
something like that, and they go on to the World Series.
(27:35):
They're just too good a team to not win. Even
though you know they're not one hundred and ten win team.
They're the better team than the Diamondbacks by a long
shot in this playoff, and I expect them to show
it tomorrow night at home in Game seven.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Curiosity, if Fat can continue his great run of late
the last two starts, he's been good total of ten
innings pitched with eleven strikeouts, just four hits allowed, and
the key stat when you're be dealing with these boppers
zero walks allowed. That's gonna be key his control early on.
Can he stave off elimination from a Game seven in
(28:12):
the first two innings? Can you get into the second
round of it bats with that lineup before you have
to start going and pulling the strings, uh for the
the Diamondbacks and pitching coach and everything else. So I
think that's the key, And because it will vet you
and I know this is not great analysis, but it's
(28:34):
good for the show. If the Phillies advance. Yeah, oh look,
the Phillies are a bet. It's better for baseball. The
Phillies movee Well, but it's better better for the show.
Now you've got sus are on one side. No, but
then what I root for the Diamondbacks.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
I'd have no I don't want to root for the
film root for the Diamondback.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
You are the dimingas there's no way.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Fox Sports Radio. The Jason Smith Show with my best
friend Mike Harmon. We're live the Tirack dot Com studios.
We're one of the big stories hitting. After the ALCS
Rangers win Game seven, they win the last two in
Houston to go to the World Series. Did you pop
your champagne or any It's only going to the World Series.
(29:28):
It's not winning the World Series.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Wow, it's taking the Astros down.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
There are multiple reports from the Athletic other sources that
Dusty Baker will be retiring from Major League Baseball. That
has not been confirmed by Dusty, but the Athletic has
it again, couple other sources have it. And he talked
to the media a few minutes ago and talked about
his future and what is coming up next. And we're
gonna hear from Dusty for a little bit and then
(29:53):
tell you the biggest thing he's done since taken over
for the Astros, and it's not what you think. Let's
take a listen, Dusty, what did you say to you
players after the game?
Speaker 3 (30:01):
And when will you begin the process of evaluating what
you want to do for next year?
Speaker 6 (30:06):
Well, you know, I just told the guys I love them,
and I appreciate their effort and appreciate how they how
they go about their business and how professional that they are.
And I don't know, I haven't had time to evaluate
or think about my future because you know, I'm down
the list as far as you know, Like, I'm not
(30:29):
that kind of dude. I don't want to steal a
spotlight or anything from these guys, you know. I mean,
you gotta savor what we did. You got to think
about how we can get better, and then I'll evaluate
my situation in my life, you know, and so you know,
we'll see. I'll talk to my daughter. I got two
(30:51):
grand sons year and a half. I mean, I've really
sort of cheated them for my quest for another ring.
You know, I got two dogs, hunting dogs a year old.
They wouldn't even know me when I walk in the
house because I haven't been home since February the tamp Dusty.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Just me, wow, let me go. Telement's me, honey. Look
Dusty obviously, and you heard him say, I don't want
to take away from the players, So maybe he is
eschewing this official announcement because doesn't want to take away
from the team. And that's who Dusty is, right. I
don't want to do it the night and suddenly make
it about me when we just got knocked out of
the playoffs. So yes, I believe all the reports out
(31:39):
of the athletic Dusty hinting around it. Probably won't say
anything official for a day or two, but I will
say this. He did something that I didn't think was possible,
and it was the smartest thing the Astros did.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
They have one World Series with him, They got to
the ALCS Game seven with him again this year. They
sure as hell hired the right guy coming out of
their scandal. They hired the right guy because Dusty is
one of the most liked, well respected guys in baseball
and they knew we need someone like that to be
the new face of our organization. It can't be an
(32:11):
up and coming manager, it can't be something Hey, smart analytics,
you can't know. He's got to be somebody that Baseball
genuinely loves, because that's the face we need to put
on this organization. We can, we can kind of live
with the being the villains, that's fine, but to live
with that every single day, we need someone to help
us with that image. And Dusty was that guy. He
was the right guy to hire, and he brought him
(32:31):
a World Series, So yeah, mission accomplished.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
I remember when he got hired and we were on
air and we were discussing it, you know, just talking
about from a baseball perspective. You know, you got a
guy like him, or would they make Joe Tory go
be manager again? You know, guys that were universally respected
with long skin in the game and you know, the
reputation for doing things right right. We can go back
(32:55):
and just last week commemorated the anniversary of Bartment and
all that stuff and people grousing about it like that
was another one of his game sevens that are on
the list of losses. But even with that team, bringing
a bunch of young guys along, teaching them how to
play whatever, with these astros, you had some stars, but
how to just keep going about your business amid all
(33:16):
the noise, knowing that anybody that cycled in they were
gonna become part of the incoming right, they were gonna
get some of that firing upon putting that uniform on,
and he wore it well, so go enjoy the time
with the hunting dogs.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Smartest thing they did, best result for him. He wins.
And now you now he's got to walk in very
slowly that house. Though. Hey it's me. I got treats.
I got treats. I got treats.
Speaker 4 (33:40):
Well, just like we.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Always say, you gotta fire the coach, you know, you
gotta have a fall guy. He was the guy that
came in and said, I'll wear it for you. Coming
up next, a play by play call for Monday Night Football.
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