March 15, 2025 • 45 mins
Baseball's economic divide has never been more pronounced, yet the beauty of America's pastime remains in its unpredictability. Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers emerging as clear World Series favorites after their offseason spending spree, there's something magical about baseball that money simply can't buy – and that's exactly what makes this upcoming MLB season so compelling.
The Baltimore Orioles stand as this year's most intriguing challenger, with their young core poised to build on last season's breakout success. Meanwhile, Cleveland's Guardians continue defying expectations with their formula of "pitching and good vibes," proving that team chemistry and development can sometimes outperform raw payroll power. These underdog stories represent what many consider baseball's beating heart – the blue-collar determination that resonates with fans across America's smaller markets.
Nothing exemplifies baseball's economic tensions better than the Oakland Athletics' controversial move to Las Vegas. The relocation saga highlights the growing divide between ownership interests and committed fanbases, with one commentator powerfully noting: "Moving the team was a Band-Aid on a bullet hole." This sentiment extends beyond Oakland to broader concerns about baseball's future landscape – will small market teams eventually disappear entirely? The most promising solution might not be imposing a salary cap but rather establishing a salary floor, forcing ownership groups to invest minimally in competitive rosters while preserving players' earning potential. As Pittsburgh's electric playoff atmosphere once demonstrated, passionate fans in smaller markets create something invaluable for the sport that billion-dollar payrolls can never manufacture: authentic connection and c
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home
Rants podcast.
This is, as always, your host,mike Bono.
I have a great episode for ustoday.
We're going to be talking aboutall things the MLB and baseball
, with the start of the seasonquickly around the corner here
in spring training in full swingright now.
(00:20):
I have a panel of guests here.
I'm going to let them introducethemselves for you Now.
Guys, I do need your name andthe answer to these two
questions.
And is it?
Do you like tomatoes, and whattime do you get up normally
during the weekend?
Tony, we're going to start withyou sports leader for Keon
Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I do like tomatoes In the morning.
I get up whenever my alarmwakes me up, which is 7.30.
On Fridays and Mondays, 8.15.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Okay, we'll mix it up throughout the week.
Not bad, drew.
What about you?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
What's up?
Guys uh drew here.
Um, do I like tomatoes bythemselves?
No, but I do like ketchup.
I like and I like sauce.
So I don't know if that makesme like tomatoes or not, but if
you just give me a tomato, I'mprobably not gonna eat it.
And what time do I get up?
During the week I I got to beat school by 8, but I get there
(01:26):
a little bit early, so I'm upabout 6.30.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Okay, Decent time All right.
Last but not least, TJ.
What about you, hey?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
guys TJ Lett, third grade teacher, but my
one-year-old.
The only time I get to work outis in the morning, so sometimes
it's a 5 am workout, sometimesit's a 6 am workout, but I'm
almost exclusively out of bed at4.30 am, so that's 7.30.
(01:55):
Hurts the soul.
But tomatoes aren't the enemy,you know.
They're okay on sandwiches.
I won't take them off.
They're good when you mix themwith other things.
I'm not gonna just go and justbite into a tomato like an apple
, but I don't mind them yeah Ithink I'm.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I'm with y'all on that one.
I'm not gonna.
I'm not biting into one, butI'm italian, I love sauce, so
that's in there.
I can't and I put them onburgers and whatnot.
So, yeah, they're all right.
I can't.
Can't complain about them toomuch.
Being a paisan, if I complainabout tomatoes they might kick
me out the club for the sauceand everything.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Watch your back now, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
I know they're coming for me.
I got to start saying a coupleHail Marys and we'll be all
right here.
We'll get through it.
But all right, we're going totalk all things MLB and we're
just going to jump right into it.
Tony, who's your favorite towin the World Series this year?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I got to say I know everybody's going to say because
of the moves they've made.
Everyone's going to say theDodgers.
And I'm tempted to agree.
But as we've seen with baseballthe past few years, yeah, even
though the Dodgers didn't win atall last year, money can't
(03:15):
always buy you a world series.
So I know that it's probablygoing to be sacrilege saying
this as a guardians fan, I'mgonna go with the seattle
mariners to not only make theirfirst world series but win it.
Go with the mariners it's abold statement.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Cotton, let's see how it pays out for him there.
That that's a.
That's a bold stance, but drew,what about you?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
yeah, like tony said, in baseball, you know, these
top heavy teams have so muchmoney, it's hard to compete.
You see what the Mets did thisoffseason.
The Yankees are always rolling,the Dodgers are at the top.
I'm a Guardians fan as well andI think I don't think I know
they're knocking on the doorstep.
They play really well together,do I think they'll win it?
(04:03):
Probably not, so I'll go withmy second favorite team, the New
York Mets.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Mets huh.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Meet the Mets.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
TJ, can you save us here, our resident baseball
expert here on the the Dodgerswill be in the World Series, but
if it's good for baseball, theywon't run multiples in a row
but they'll win five of the nextten.
I'm a really big fan ofBaltimore.
(04:32):
I think that they had a shotlast year and those three-game
series are so mentally drainingthose three-game series, because
they're over before you know itand you know they got knocked
out in that third game.
So I think that uh, baltimorewill break their way through.
(04:53):
They got a lot of young guysthere.
I know they lost um corbinburns, but they're bringing,
they'll have enough behind it tomake it through this year.
So I think Baltimore willsurprise people with just the
depth and making it through theplayoffs, even though they don't
have, or they've had, a coupleof years of experience with
those guys.
So those young guys are goingto step up.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Yeah, I lean Dodgers, mainly just because of the
moves they've made.
I don't think they'll go backto back.
They're definitely going to bein it.
But yeah, I'd have to giveBaltimore the edge in that one
too as well.
Everything in me wants thePirates to just be relevant for
(05:37):
once.
As a Pirates fan.
Paul Skeens can't do it byhimself.
The man throws junk in heat andjust is phenomenal.
So he'll probably be a dodgerin a couple years here, knowing
how the pirates work, um.
But I just, like you know, makethe playoffs.
That's kind of where I'm atright now.
Let's let's get a wild card orsomething and just be relevant
(06:00):
again.
But yeah, I'd have to eithersay it's either gonna, it's
probably gonna be la inbaltimore uh, this year would be
my pick and get baltimore theedge and tony, let's stay with
you.
But what is the ceiling for theguardians this year?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
honestly, just like it was last year, pitching in
good vibes pitching in goodvibes all right, they surprised
me last year.
I remember saying at this pointlast season they'd probably be
lucky to win 74, 75 games.
They surprised me in 190.
So you know, as long as thepitching can hold up like they
(06:37):
did last year.
And it helped that the offenseactually produced as well,
because in order to go far likethey did, you need a good
offense as well as pitch yeah, Icould see that drew.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
What about you?
Like what was the question?
Again, you kind of broke up onmy end when you're answering
your ask.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Oh, no, worries.
Uh, what's the ceiling for theguardians this year?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
uh, well, the ceiling is, if you're going based off
last year, is ALCS pushing thedoorstep for the world series?
Um, you know you, you look lookat the team that they have
there.
There was there's not a lot ofmagic in Cleveland.
There's a.
There's a hell hole at by thelake with the Browns, but I
(07:21):
don't know what it is.
You go a mile down the road andit's like there's some magic in
Cleveland.
They really do a good job ofwinning games when they really
shouldn't be winning games.
If you recall that last yearALCS, when they beat the Yankees
I know the only beat them onetime, but at one time they did
beat them Holy crap, it was likeyou never would even imagine.
(07:43):
They did it not once, but twice.
You know those home runs likethat.
So there's something.
There's something there thatthey're a special.
Now I know that that kind ofruns out and money talks and
talent talks, so that'ssomething.
They don't have to compete withthe Yankees and daughters and
Mets.
But if you're a, if you're aguardians player, if you're on
the guardian staff, you'relooking at each other saying why
(08:04):
can't we do what we did lastyear?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
yet again, yeah, I don't think they lost much.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah, they really did .
They lost that second baseman,but they got some guys back.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Yeah, I think they filled in the right spots.
I think they can get over thatCLS hump.
Possibly You'd hope, you reallyhope, you'd really hope.
But TJ, what about you?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Yeah, the ceiling is to me the same as it was, as
where they made it last year.
I don't think they have WorldSeries aspirations in them this
year because I think now theyhave a target on their back.
I think a lot of teams tookthem lightly last year,
especially going into theplayoffs, especially all of the
AL Central.
They took the AL Central verylightly and we snuck up and took
(08:51):
some teams down.
I just think the Tigers aregoing to be really competitive
this year.
I think Kansas City's going tobe really competitive this year.
I think Boston's going to bereally competitive this year in
a way where we may not.
You know, if we make it to theplayoffs we'll be a wild
wildcard team and if we get intothe playoffs we're going to run
(09:12):
into a buzzsaw.
We might be matched up withBaltimore, we might be matched
up with Boston, where we'regoing to have a little bit more
trouble.
But the key here for theguardians this year is that
we're going to be healthy, makeit to the deadline If we cause.
We did that last year.
We were relevant in June.
Once we were relevant in June,people started to believe the
team started to believe they'relike you know what.
(09:33):
Let's make sure it's not afluke get to June and then they
start.
Then you get to the deadlineand all of a sudden you're still
first place.
Team is like, okay, we can see,we can see the playoffs in
sight.
So if they can get to thedeadline, I think, or if they
can get to June and be asrelevant as they were last year
or as dominant as they were lastyear, it might change some
(09:53):
things.
I just think that now they havea target on their back and more
teams will take them seriously.
So it'll be a little bit of atougher road.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, I mean, I think once you have that success,
people do kind of take you alittle bit more seriously.
But I think at the end of theday, everyone just always has
that mindset.
They go it's Cleveland, youknow, like it's Cleveland's pro
sports, like it's just somethingabout them makes other teams
kind of slack off when they goup there and they don't take
them as seriously as they should, especially the baseball team,
the Browns.
I mean I would like you to do awhole show about the Browns and
(10:29):
their bad luck.
It's by myself, so.
But yeah, I mean, I don't know,part of me wants to see the
guardians relevant, mainlybecause I love the movies, major
league, um, with Charlie Sheen,and you know that that just
(10:50):
makes me want to see them berelevant.
Uh, with that.
But it is what it is.
It's Cleveland pro sports, uh,but TJ, uh, stay with you here.
And which team do you think hasthe most approved this year,
this year?
Speaker 4 (11:06):
I believe the Mets have the most to prove.
You have the signing of JuanSoto.
They somehow returned PeteAlonso by leaving him dangling
out there.
They are very lucky there.
They I believe they returnedMania, correct, I believe.
So, yeah, okay.
So they returned some guys andthey have some guys off of
(11:28):
injury now.
So they returned some guys andthey have some guys off of
injury now.
They were a second half teamlast year and a lot of people
wrote them out and they kind ofgot their swagger back in that
second half.
So now it's like OK, it's our.
We are not a small market.
People have high expectationsfor us.
(11:50):
We kind of know the skill levelthat we're at.
It's basically just them saying, okay, we have to find some way
to get to facing the Dodgersand the CS Again, to go and
let's have that rematch.
But if you go and sign and youspend $700 million on one player
and you didn't really lose awhole lot after that, you have
(12:14):
to now, you know, put your moneywhere your mouth is really and
go and and make it happen.
So I think the Mets have thebiggest, you know, the most to
lose here.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah, Soto was definitely huge for the Mets,
but let's ask our resident Metsfan here and drew.
But who do you think?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
which team has the most proof of this year?
Is it your Mets or Well?
I think everything TJ said isabsolutely correct.
I think the Mets have all thepressures on.
If I had to pick a team thathas a little bit more pressure,
one percent more, it's the teamdown the road, the new york
yankees.
Man they have.
They've spent so much money,they've spent, they've done so
many moves and what?
(12:57):
What is there to show for it?
Uh, when's the last thing theywant?
They want a world series,really.
Is it, derrick cheater?
I mean, we're talking what?
2009?
Speaker 1 (13:05):
2009, yeah or 09 09 10.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Yeah, I think it's every year you see this team in
the headlines, you see this, theteam, the bead they have, judge
.
They have the Bronx bombers,all this stuff and they they
haven't got it done.
And that is for a team like theMets, you know they do have.
They have a lot to prove, butthey're kind of starting now.
The Yankees have.
It's been a long year, longtime for this thing to really
(13:31):
figure it out and they haven'tdone it.
And I think if you are ayankees fan, you're starting a
little fed up.
When is it going to be our turntype deal, you know?
And it hasn't been there and Idon't think it's going to be
there moving forward.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
There's so many good teams there really are I think a
lot of the league, especiallyin the AL, have decided like hey
, why don't we do what theYankees have been doing for
years and open our pocketbooksand spend some money and get
some top talent.
Everyone, except for thePirates, apparently have decided
(14:05):
that we need to break out thecheckbook and sign some players.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Look at the AL East itself.
You have Baltimore, who'sreally good.
You have Toronto, who's not thebest, but they have some
players out there.
Boston's always going to beBoston.
You've got teams that are goingto compete with you in that AL
East that are not chumps anymore.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
They're not pushovers .
No, it's not just New York andBoston running that division,
it's not.
People are ready and I thinkthe Yankees have just relied on
that.
Let's just spend some money andwe'll be in the World Series,
and that's what's always worked.
And now it's not and they don'tknow what to do.
I don't think, because I don'tthink I've ever seen in a long
(14:45):
time, almost coming up on twodecades, where the Yankees
really haven't been thatrelevant when it comes to the
postseason.
And yeah, I'd have to agreewith you.
I was going to go Yankees onthis one and I hate the Yankees.
I root for the Red Sox becauseI hate the Yankees that much.
That's pretty much where it'sat.
(15:07):
But Tony, what about you?
Who has the most to prove thisyear?
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I'm going to have to say I have two teams that have
the most approved this year.
The first I'm going to have tosay is Toronto, because they've
had a lot of I like Toronto.
They've had a lot of youngtalent that's come through.
You have Bo Bichette, vladdy Jr.
They've got some young talentbut they've haven't won and
(15:32):
haven't been able to advance.
They made the playoffs with 89wins, from 21 to 23, having
89-92-91 wins, but they haven'tput it together and they think I
mean, how long is Vladdy goingto stay?
I mean, how long is Vladdy goingto stay?
How long do you think Vladdy'sgoing to stay before he goes
somewhere else?
Before he goes to an LA, goesto a New York, goes to a team
(15:56):
that can contend, becauseToronto's the only MLB team in
Canada and they've got a fanbase that does show up to games.
But you've got to, althoughit's nice to win 90-some-odd
games a year, you've got to haveresults.
I mean, I know the AL Eastisn't obviously the easiest
division, but that means you'vegot to make things happen.
(16:19):
And this second one is going tokind of be a strange answer.
But at this point, this team,really you can't fall off the
bottom, in this case the ChicagoWhite Sox.
Point this team.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
really you can't fall off the bottom, in this case
the chicago white socks becauseyou can't, you can't have a.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
You really, you really, you can't have another
121 loss season, that that justcan't happen.
You gotta, at some point you'vegotta trend up.
Am I saying that they're gonnawin the central?
No.
Am I saying they're gonna be500?
No.
Am I saying they're even gonnanot finish last?
(16:54):
No.
But you gotta that last seasonwas just an aberration, that
that was one of the worstseasons I've ever experienced as
a baseball fan I'm not a fan ofthe White Sox by any stretch.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
but I had to kind of feel sad because that's just
yeah, when you see pictures ofthe stadium completely empty on
like a Friday, saturday nightgame and there's five people in
the stands, it's like, okay,what do we got to do?
That's bad for baseball, that'sbad for, that's bad.
(17:30):
Yeah, that's just bad for thesport in general.
Because, you know, there's somany people that were screaming
after the season to sell theteam, move the team.
The White Sox aren't going tomake it in Chicago because of
this.
We already have a team inChicago.
That's actually, you know,putting up wins.
We don't need to.
And, yeah, when that'shappening, I mean, I I think if
(17:54):
they don't lose 100 games thisyear, it's a win for them.
They're moving in the rightdirection because because, yeah,
you lose 121 games.
How the pirates don't even lose121 games a year and they try
to lose like it's.
I don't know.
I've been shitting on thePirates this entire time.
I'm a huge Pirates fan, but I'mhoping somebody from Pittsburgh
(18:14):
listens to this show and maybelistens a little bit Like, hey,
let's spend some money, let's berelevant, because back in, oh,
what was it?
I think it was 11 or 12 whenthe Pirates made, when they had
AJ J Burnett and that, when theywere in the wildcard game, did
you, everybody, anybody see whatthe town of Pittsburgh did for
(18:37):
that team when they were there?
Like well?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
just listen to the games and just listen to it.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Listen, listen to that.
It's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
It's the Quato.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
The Quato call is it's the best atmosphere for pro
sports is Pittsburgh and I lovePittsburgh sports and I love
the Pirates and it's just I wantto see them when they had the
bat signal up on one of thebuildings and green lights when
Burnett was pitching and likeit's.
That's the kind of atmosphereyou want for baseball.
(19:09):
That is good for the sport andit's good for everybody.
That's the kind of atmosphereyou want for baseball.
That is good for the sport andit's good for everybody around
in the in the town of Pittsburghand yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And I and I, I love LA, I love the Dodgers in a
sense of like listen, they'reforcing everybody else's hand.
But sometimes you have firstpitch and those $10,000 seats in
the playoffs behind home plateare empty, waiting for the
celebrities and the seasonticket holders coming to sit
(19:37):
down there.
You're not going to see that atsmall market teams.
Those people are up.
You have kids, you haveeverybody moving.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
It's a blue collar men, women that are just there
and just want to root on theirteam, and that is 100%
Pittsburgh.
We spoke a little bit aboutteams moving and I want to get
y'all's thoughts on this, and TJwill stay with you.
What are your thoughts on theA's moving to Vegas?
(20:06):
I think that.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Maybe it's going to fall on deaf ears, but this is a
tone setter for owners.
Hopefully you know hey, a citycares for a team, people, the
fans.
That city cares for a team thatyou invest in and if you don't,
(20:31):
the fans will stop.
The fans will say hey, listen,it's not worth my time because
it's not worth the owner's time.
The a's ownership gave up andsaid you know what?
We're just going to be the lastplace team and be okay with it.
And fans don't like beinginsulted and they turn their
back.
They came out and showed itwhere they had that one fan uh
(20:53):
rebellion, where they sold outthe stadium.
Where they had that one fanrebellion, where they sold out
the stadium just because andthey sold it out in that last
year saying hey, we are all here, we have all these baseball
fans.
Please give us something tocome to the stadium to see.
Don't give us AAA and AA guysthat you brought up just because
we have nine players on thefield.
Give us something to cheer for.
(21:14):
And I think that moving the teamwas a Band-Aid on a bullet hole
and then to double down on it.
The owners really spit in theface of the fans because now the
A's are spending money, nowthey're signing people, now
they're extending contracts andit's like, listen, that was all
(21:36):
your fans were asking for.
So I think that there was maybea little bit of backhand.
You know shadiness where it'slike, hey, we just want to get
out of Oakland, let's find a wayout.
Vegas is a great spot for, youknow, people coming in tourism.
But you know and being aCleveland fan, we know what it's
like to not spend money andunfortunately it's really really
frustrating.
(21:57):
But you know, owners need tokind of step up and say, listen,
this is your investment, yourfans are your demand, you know.
So give us what we need to doand we'll keep coming.
We will give the ownersmillions and millions of dollars
as long as you give us aproduct to watch.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Yeah, I couldn't have said that better myself.
I think they're just trying toget everybody out of that
Northern California area andmove them all to Vegas, started
with the Raiders, and you knowit's happening now Got hockey
teams.
You know they're bringing prosports to Vegas.
But Drew, what about you?
What do you think about the A'smove?
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Yeah, it seems like Vegas is the place to be right
now, but no, I think TJ hit itright on the head.
Man, it's a shame because youhave a franchise that's been in
Oakland for so long and you seethese new not new cities but,
like the Golden Knights or, likeyou said, the Raiders, are
going to Vegas.
(22:57):
That's a cool place to be.
They're having success and youknow what?
The Raiders aren't good.
The golden Knights are okay,but they sell out stadiums,
people.
And if you're a fan of theOakland A's and you live in
Raleigh, north Carolina, you'regoing to say, all right, let's
go to Oak, let's go to Vegas andwatch them.
They get a, they get a trip outof it.
(23:18):
You know what I mean.
I don't think you're going tosee that too much in Oakland.
It's.
You know, vegas is Vegas,oakland, oakland.
Vegas is better.
It comes down to the situation.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Yeah, Alienating a fan base here, hope there's a
life in Oakland.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
But like you, but say it happened to the Guardians,
say Cleveland.
Can you imagine what wouldhappen in Cleveland?
It would be.
I think every fan would justlay in the stadium until they
said, no, we're not going to dothis anymore.
So I do feel bad for the smallmarkets, but it seems like in
2025, it's a new thing to do.
It's just like the transferportal Everyone's moving around
(23:58):
and trying to get to a betterspot.
I think he's the only thingtrying to do as well.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Yeah, tony, what are your thoughts?
Oh man, I.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
I don't like the move at all.
I still think they should be inOakland for a variety of
reasons.
I'm not going to ever call themjust the athletics.
I'm going to call them theOakland because they should
still be in Oakland.
I like seeing their postseasongames, especially when they beat
Detroit bottom of the ninth in2012.
(24:32):
I really think in 2020, if theywere able to have fans, that
stadium when they played againstthe White Sox would have been
rocking.
Yeah, it's just a major slap inthe face and John Fisher just
doesn't care.
It's just a slap in the face tothe people who support Oakland.
(24:52):
Oakland won a World Series Likethe city's lost three
franchises in five years.
Yes, the Warriors are still inthe Bay Area, but they're in San
Francisco.
They're on the other side.
You've got the Raiders who arein Vegas.
Even the people in Vegas don'twant the move.
(25:13):
People in Vegas don't want themthere.
I in Vegas don't want themthere.
I mean, I know Vegas iseventually going to get a
franchise rightfully so but itjust seems really, really,
really short-sighted.
And for those of you who areA's fans and those of you who
are Oakland and the Bay Area, myheart goes out to you.
(25:35):
My heart really, truly does goout to you, and John Fisher is
one of the worst owners inbaseball and it's a real slap in
the face that they're actuallyspending money now that they're
up and sat from that.
Yes, they're still in NorCal,but you're playing in a AAA ball
.
You're not going to get thatpassion, that noise, that
(25:59):
Section 116, that soccer-typeatmosphere that you're going to
get up in Sacramento like youwould have in Oakland.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Yeah, I mean, I fear the day that I think baseball
and a lot of pro sports aregoing to this.
I fear the day that there'sgoing to be no more small market
teams.
It's going to be all largemarket New York's, your LA's,
your Chicago's, your Boston's,miami's You're going to see all
(26:33):
of these big market where, okay,people want to come to these
destinations to see a game andthere's going to be no more
Cleveland, no more Oakland, nomore Pittsburgh, none of that,
and it's.
It's just going to be bad forsports in general.
You need these low market teamsbecause you get a different
(26:59):
aspect of the game.
These guys aren't making thetop of the Juan Soto type money,
but they're playing their damnhearts out and fans can see that
and fans want to see that.
They want to see the guys thatare going to go out there and
bust their ass for nine inningsand and put a good product on
(27:19):
the field.
They might lose the game, butthey're, you know they're.
They're out there and it's yeah.
I think that's yeah.
That's where it's heading.
That's just what I seehappening and I don't want to
see it happen, but I thinkthat's where it's where it's
heading.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Fans love the underdog story, right?
Absolutely.
They want the David versusGoliath.
They want that team to takedown.
They want the small team totake down the big team.
That's why you have, I mean, LA, new York, boston, whatever you
want to call it they have thebiggest enemies, they have the
biggest because they just wantto see them fall.
They want to see them get thereand then they want to see them
fall.
You know, that's just the adage.
Where it's they, you got tohave it, you have to have it,
(28:03):
and that's the so for me.
I think of the comparison,right?
Ask everybody in the league,ask every fan, really ask every
manager do you want Juan Soto ordo you want Jose Ramirez?
On a day-to-day basis, on aneveryday basis, right, and every
team will be like I have a guythat steals base, steals 40
(28:23):
bases, hits 40 home runs andhits 40 doubles.
But I have the guy that hits 45home runs with a shuffle that
you know can sometimes play somedefense.
It's like listen, one guy willsell tickets, one guy will win
me a game yep yeah or even
Speaker 2 (28:37):
if Detroit knocked off Cleveland in game five, I
would vote for Detroit.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
It's still fine it's still with that series.
You're looking at that serieslike, okay, these two teams are
two just grinders going at eachother, so yeah yeah, I'd love to
watch those games and you knowjust the teams that you know are
just gonna.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
It might be a one to nothing victory, but you know
these guys are out theregrinding and you know it's in.
It's a good game to watch.
Um, but drew, let's go to youfor this one.
Uh, will the yankees or themets go further this?
Speaker 3 (29:11):
year oh, that's a hot topic in this Yankees or the
Mets, you know what.
And I got a shirt upstairs.
My mom's a big Yankees fan and,um, when I was, I know right,
and we when she went to New York.
When, uh, this is going back Iheard her friends go to New York
, she brought me back a subwayseries shirt that I still have.
(29:34):
I thought it was really apretty cool shirt.
Anyways, I think you might see asubways yeah, I think you might
see a subway series this year.
I really do, both teams arereally good.
Um, I'm gonna go with my mets,though, when at all in that
situation.
So, uh, I say the mets aregonna go a little bit further I
(29:54):
had a feeling that's whereyou're going.
That's why I wanted to get toyou first on this one Tony, what
about you?
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I'm going to say that I think that I'm going to go on
a limb and I'm going to say theMets.
I'm going to say the Mets, yeahmeet the Mets.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
I'm just trying to hype Drew up right now, tony,
it's not that I hate the YankeesI do, but that's not the point.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
I think the Mets will go further, because I think
that they can potentially winthe NL East.
I mean, they rode that momentum, with the power of God and
Grimace on their side, to asix-game series.
And the Mets, even though theyare based in New York, are an
underdog franchise and seen asthe little brother of the
Yankees.
And the Yankees, I mean GarrettCole is out for the 2025.
(30:45):
John Carlos Stanton's injured.
This is not the same Yankeeteam of years past.
This isn't the same Yankeesteam that's going to scare the
crap out of you.
Yeah, I think they'll probablymake playoffs, but I don't see
them making a deep run,especially now that Garrett
(31:06):
Cole's out for the year.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Yeah, you lose one of your aces.
Pitching Stanton's hurt Judgeisn't really doing much.
I don't know.
Tj, let's go to you before so Ican collect myself before this
one.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Hot take Yankees do not make the playoffs.
We have Baltimore, who is solid.
I think that, whether it'sBoston or Toronto, one of them
has to step up this year.
And we always discount the Raysand the Rays have always been
just kind of there, just kind ofthere taking a playoff spot
(31:46):
from somebody.
But the injury to Cole ismassive.
They're going to do everythingthey can to try to fix it.
And let's not forget, luis Gilis out for a little bit.
He is not starting the seasonright now, and that's two major
pitchers that they had highhopes For going into the season.
Judge does not have theprotection that he once had.
(32:08):
Rizzo is still on the Freeagent list, I believe.
I mean that lineup.
What is that lineup going tolook like?
So I mean, you might have a lotof young guys, you might have
some guys that come in and do acouple of good things, but they
just don't have the protection.
And when you don't have alineup that has good protection
for your, for your top guys, youhave to rely on your pitching
(32:29):
staff and defense.
They do not play defense welland their pitching staff is hurt
.
I think they're going to digthemselves a hole too early in
the season.
Um, to come back, and I thinkthe american league is too good,
I think the al central is gonnastick around and just kind of
be around.
That 80.
You're gonna have three teamsthat between 85 and 95 wins.
(32:53):
I think that, um, you know, themariners had a terrible year
but I think they're gonna comeback this year.
I think that there's just otherteams in the ale that aren't
gonna allow the yankees to sneakinto a wild card team.
So I think the mets are gonnaat least make the playoffs.
So, um, I will say the mets getfurther, further.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
I will add this Outside of Judge and Stanton,
nobody in that Yankee linescares me.
I'm just going to be completely, I'm just going to be.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
No, I've been screaming for somebody to sign
Rizzo.
I mean, you've got a guy likethat that's on the free agent
market, it's just.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
I know a certain Something's up with him.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
They have some insider information.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
Something's gotta be wrong, that's the only thing I
can think of how do you not signRizzo?
Somebody's gonna sign him.
I mean, somebody's gonna signhim, but why hasn't he been
signed yet?
Speaker 4 (33:47):
Even like a Guardians , where they say, hey, we'll
take Carlos Santana You'retelling me Rizzo's at least even
, or maybe a little bit aboveCarlos Santana when it comes to
hey, I would like a veteran atthe corner, somebody that will
play every day, maybe somebodythat could a good contact, a
lefty swing.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yeah, come on.
Yeah, I think, yeah, pittsburgh.
What are you doing?
What's wrong?
Speaker 4 (34:13):
How could you just?
Speaker 1 (34:14):
What could go wrong?
Speaker 4 (34:15):
Yeah right.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Okay, you're in Pittsburgh.
What do you lose?
Let's sign Rizzo, let's get himon a one-year deal, and if it
doesn't, work out oh, we screwedup, sorry.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Or sign with the White Sox.
Somebody's got to get over tohim.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
There's a line over there.
Go sit and write it.
Hey guys, we're running downnear the end of the episode here
.
I do want to get this lastquestion in here, cause I think
it's going to be a good one, andthat's do you think there needs
to be a salary cap in baseballand TJ?
I want to start with you.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
Salary cap no.
Salary floor yes, I want.
I think that these athletes puttheir bodies through so much
and we don't even know thetravel, the every single day and
you know, you don't know ifyou're going to have a 3 year
career or a 10 year career.
So these players deserve moneyand we need to get these fans.
(35:12):
We need to get fans out to theballpark.
So there needs to be a littlebit more promoting when it comes
to that.
Make the game accessible forkids.
I'm fully believe on the.
You know, if you're 12 andunder, get in free.
Just get kids in the park.
But a salary floor yes, Becauseyou have your Oaklands, you
have your whoever.
It is small markets, I get it.
No-transcript.
(35:54):
I'm going to invest in myproduct, so give me a floor.
I'm okay with no cap, but giveme a floor.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
I like that.
I never thought of it that way.
That's a good point.
But, Drew, what about you?
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Yeah, that's a really good point, tj.
I say yes through SB's salarycap.
Added in three sports MLB, nfl,nba.
Nfl is one of my most supported.
I watch and pay attention toand it's so interesting how
these GM's maneuver what theycan do with money and all that,
(36:30):
and it's cool to see how they dothat.
And MLB sent them to a 100million dollar contract for a 10
year, and you know what I mean.
Like there's no strategy to it.
I see the strategy in the nfl,which I like, and I think if you
brought that to the mlb it'd bea whole different game.
The yankees and the guardianswould be on the same level floor
and that's something you wouldnever see, ever.
(36:50):
You know what I.
So I think it would be coolerto see a salary cap in the MLB.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Okay, tony.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
I think we should see a salary floor.
I agree with TJ and I wantminor leaguers to be paid more
as well, because not all minorleaguers are going to make it to
the show.
Good point Even if you don'tmake it to the show, you should
be able to earn a living, alivable wage, if you're going to
be 28, 29, 30, a double A,triple A, maybe, you know, maybe
(37:23):
that little extra pay mightmotivate you in case you do get
that call at 30, 31, 32 yearsold.
But if you're not, if you don'tpay them, then they've got to
make ends meet by doing odd jobsand stuff like that.
They should be paid a fair,livable wage, especially for
what they do playing ball in thesummer, trying to make it to
(37:47):
the show.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
Yeah, I agree with that that the minor leaguers
need paid, Mainly becausethey're putting a better product
on the field, because they'retrying to get to the show.
Let's pay them.
Tj, I think you just kind offloored the end of the show here
with your salary floor ideabecause I wasn't even thinking
(38:10):
of that.
That wasn't even a thought inmy mind.
That could be a thing.
Let's tell teams you have tospend this much money in salary,
at least this much money onyour players.
I think it would force teams to, like you said, pay these guys
and let's put a good product onthe field.
Speaker 4 (38:33):
Rizzo's not in free agency.
If you had to spend moneybecause it's like, hey, here's
the dollars that we have, who'sthe best available?
Let's go put a bid on the bestavailable and then, okay, find
the next best available.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
You know and if they don't come to you, you know like
, you have to spend that money.
You have to spend that amountof money.
I don't care if it's 100million, whatever, 200, whatever
it is, you have to spend thatamount of money.
I don't care if it's a hundredmillion, whatever, 200, whatever
it is, you have to spend thisamount of money.
You spend one more power to you.
If you can't but get them to acertain point, like I, yeah,
reserves available, okay, okay,give them 50, 60 million.
(39:07):
You know, make them an offer.
I mean, I don't know any humanbeing in their right mind that's
like, oh, $50 million, no, no,thank you.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
No, I'm good.
Speaker 1 (39:19):
I'm cool.
I don't know anybody who wouldturn that down.
But yeah, that's a great wayand I think that's a great
cliffhanger to leave everybodyleft with here.
Because that is going to do itfor this week's episode of the
ride home rants podcast.
I want to thank all my guestsTony, drew and TJ for joining
get to talk all things MLB andbaseball.
(39:42):
I look forward to seeing howthe season plays out and how
everything happens and hopefullywe can have our predictions
come true.
But, as always, if you enjoyedthe show, be a friend, tell a
friend.
If you didn't show, be a friend, tell a friend.
If you didn't tell them.
Anyways, they might like itjust because you didn't.
That's going to do it for meand I will see y'all next week.
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home
Rants podcast.
This is, as always, your host,mike Bono.
I have a great episode for ustoday.
We're going to be talking aboutall things the MLB and baseball
, with the start of the seasonquickly around the corner here
in spring training in full swingright now.
(00:20):
I have a panel of guests here.
I'm going to let them introducethemselves for you Now.
Guys, I do need your name andthe answer to these two
questions.
And is it?
Do you like tomatoes, and whattime do you get up normally
during the weekend?
Tony, we're going to start withyou sports leader for Keon
Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I do like tomatoes In the morning.
I get up whenever my alarmwakes me up, which is 7.30.
On Fridays and Mondays, 8.15.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Okay, we'll mix it up throughout the week.
Not bad, drew.
What about you?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
What's up?
Guys uh drew here.
Um, do I like tomatoes bythemselves?
No, but I do like ketchup.
I like and I like sauce.
So I don't know if that makesme like tomatoes or not, but if
you just give me a tomato, I'mprobably not gonna eat it.
And what time do I get up?
During the week I I got to beat school by 8, but I get there
(01:26):
a little bit early, so I'm upabout 6.30.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Okay, Decent time All right.
Last but not least, TJ.
What about you, hey?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
guys TJ Lett, third grade teacher, but my
one-year-old.
The only time I get to work outis in the morning, so sometimes
it's a 5 am workout, sometimesit's a 6 am workout, but I'm
almost exclusively out of bed at4.30 am, so that's 7.30.
(01:55):
Hurts the soul.
But tomatoes aren't the enemy,you know.
They're okay on sandwiches.
I won't take them off.
They're good when you mix themwith other things.
I'm not gonna just go and justbite into a tomato like an apple
, but I don't mind them yeah Ithink I'm.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I'm with y'all on that one.
I'm not gonna.
I'm not biting into one, butI'm italian, I love sauce, so
that's in there.
I can't and I put them onburgers and whatnot.
So, yeah, they're all right.
I can't.
Can't complain about them toomuch.
Being a paisan, if I complainabout tomatoes they might kick
me out the club for the sauceand everything.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Watch your back now, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
I know they're coming for me.
I got to start saying a coupleHail Marys and we'll be all
right here.
We'll get through it.
But all right, we're going totalk all things MLB and we're
just going to jump right into it.
Tony, who's your favorite towin the World Series this year?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I got to say I know everybody's going to say because
of the moves they've made.
Everyone's going to say theDodgers.
And I'm tempted to agree.
But as we've seen with baseballthe past few years, yeah, even
though the Dodgers didn't win atall last year, money can't
(03:15):
always buy you a world series.
So I know that it's probablygoing to be sacrilege saying
this as a guardians fan, I'mgonna go with the seattle
mariners to not only make theirfirst world series but win it.
Go with the mariners it's abold statement.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Cotton, let's see how it pays out for him there.
That that's a.
That's a bold stance, but drew,what about you?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
yeah, like tony said, in baseball, you know, these
top heavy teams have so muchmoney, it's hard to compete.
You see what the Mets did thisoffseason.
The Yankees are always rolling,the Dodgers are at the top.
I'm a Guardians fan as well andI think I don't think I know
they're knocking on the doorstep.
They play really well together,do I think they'll win it?
(04:03):
Probably not, so I'll go withmy second favorite team, the New
York Mets.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Mets huh.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Meet the Mets.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
TJ, can you save us here, our resident baseball
expert here on the the Dodgerswill be in the World Series, but
if it's good for baseball, theywon't run multiples in a row
but they'll win five of the nextten.
I'm a really big fan ofBaltimore.
(04:32):
I think that they had a shotlast year and those three-game
series are so mentally drainingthose three-game series, because
they're over before you know itand you know they got knocked
out in that third game.
So I think that uh, baltimorewill break their way through.
(04:53):
They got a lot of young guysthere.
I know they lost um corbinburns, but they're bringing,
they'll have enough behind it tomake it through this year.
So I think Baltimore willsurprise people with just the
depth and making it through theplayoffs, even though they don't
have, or they've had, a coupleof years of experience with
those guys.
So those young guys are goingto step up.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Yeah, I lean Dodgers, mainly just because of the
moves they've made.
I don't think they'll go backto back.
They're definitely going to bein it.
But yeah, I'd have to giveBaltimore the edge in that one
too as well.
Everything in me wants thePirates to just be relevant for
(05:37):
once.
As a Pirates fan.
Paul Skeens can't do it byhimself.
The man throws junk in heat andjust is phenomenal.
So he'll probably be a dodgerin a couple years here, knowing
how the pirates work, um.
But I just, like you know, makethe playoffs.
That's kind of where I'm atright now.
Let's let's get a wild card orsomething and just be relevant
(06:00):
again.
But yeah, I'd have to eithersay it's either gonna, it's
probably gonna be la inbaltimore uh, this year would be
my pick and get baltimore theedge and tony, let's stay with
you.
But what is the ceiling for theguardians this year?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
honestly, just like it was last year, pitching in
good vibes pitching in goodvibes all right, they surprised
me last year.
I remember saying at this pointlast season they'd probably be
lucky to win 74, 75 games.
They surprised me in 190.
So you know, as long as thepitching can hold up like they
(06:37):
did last year.
And it helped that the offenseactually produced as well,
because in order to go far likethey did, you need a good
offense as well as pitch yeah, Icould see that drew.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
What about you?
Like what was the question?
Again, you kind of broke up onmy end when you're answering
your ask.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Oh, no, worries.
Uh, what's the ceiling for theguardians this year?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
uh, well, the ceiling is, if you're going based off
last year, is ALCS pushing thedoorstep for the world series?
Um, you know you, you look lookat the team that they have
there.
There was there's not a lot ofmagic in Cleveland.
There's a.
There's a hell hole at by thelake with the Browns, but I
(07:21):
don't know what it is.
You go a mile down the road andit's like there's some magic in
Cleveland.
They really do a good job ofwinning games when they really
shouldn't be winning games.
If you recall that last yearALCS, when they beat the Yankees
I know the only beat them onetime, but at one time they did
beat them Holy crap, it was likeyou never would even imagine.
(07:43):
They did it not once, but twice.
You know those home runs likethat.
So there's something.
There's something there thatthey're a special.
Now I know that that kind ofruns out and money talks and
talent talks, so that'ssomething.
They don't have to compete withthe Yankees and daughters and
Mets.
But if you're a, if you're aguardians player, if you're on
the guardian staff, you'relooking at each other saying why
(08:04):
can't we do what we did lastyear?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
yet again, yeah, I don't think they lost much.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah, they really did .
They lost that second baseman,but they got some guys back.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Yeah, I think they filled in the right spots.
I think they can get over thatCLS hump.
Possibly You'd hope, you reallyhope, you'd really hope.
But TJ, what about you?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Yeah, the ceiling is to me the same as it was, as
where they made it last year.
I don't think they have WorldSeries aspirations in them this
year because I think now theyhave a target on their back.
I think a lot of teams tookthem lightly last year,
especially going into theplayoffs, especially all of the
AL Central.
They took the AL Central verylightly and we snuck up and took
(08:51):
some teams down.
I just think the Tigers aregoing to be really competitive
this year.
I think Kansas City's going tobe really competitive this year.
I think Boston's going to bereally competitive this year in
a way where we may not.
You know, if we make it to theplayoffs we'll be a wild
wildcard team and if we get intothe playoffs we're going to run
(09:12):
into a buzzsaw.
We might be matched up withBaltimore, we might be matched
up with Boston, where we'regoing to have a little bit more
trouble.
But the key here for theguardians this year is that
we're going to be healthy, makeit to the deadline If we cause.
We did that last year.
We were relevant in June.
Once we were relevant in June,people started to believe the
team started to believe they'relike you know what.
(09:33):
Let's make sure it's not afluke get to June and then they
start.
Then you get to the deadlineand all of a sudden you're still
first place.
Team is like, okay, we can see,we can see the playoffs in
sight.
So if they can get to thedeadline, I think, or if they
can get to June and be asrelevant as they were last year
or as dominant as they were lastyear, it might change some
(09:53):
things.
I just think that now they havea target on their back and more
teams will take them seriously.
So it'll be a little bit of atougher road.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, I mean, I think once you have that success,
people do kind of take you alittle bit more seriously.
But I think at the end of theday, everyone just always has
that mindset.
They go it's Cleveland, youknow, like it's Cleveland's pro
sports, like it's just somethingabout them makes other teams
kind of slack off when they goup there and they don't take
them as seriously as they should, especially the baseball team,
the Browns.
I mean I would like you to do awhole show about the Browns and
(10:29):
their bad luck.
It's by myself, so.
But yeah, I mean, I don't know,part of me wants to see the
guardians relevant, mainlybecause I love the movies, major
league, um, with Charlie Sheen,and you know that that just
(10:50):
makes me want to see them berelevant.
Uh, with that.
But it is what it is.
It's Cleveland pro sports, uh,but TJ, uh, stay with you here.
And which team do you think hasthe most approved this year,
this year?
Speaker 4 (11:06):
I believe the Mets have the most to prove.
You have the signing of JuanSoto.
They somehow returned PeteAlonso by leaving him dangling
out there.
They are very lucky there.
They I believe they returnedMania, correct, I believe.
So, yeah, okay.
So they returned some guys andthey have some guys off of
(11:28):
injury now.
So they returned some guys andthey have some guys off of
injury now.
They were a second half teamlast year and a lot of people
wrote them out and they kind ofgot their swagger back in that
second half.
So now it's like OK, it's our.
We are not a small market.
People have high expectationsfor us.
(11:50):
We kind of know the skill levelthat we're at.
It's basically just them saying, okay, we have to find some way
to get to facing the Dodgersand the CS Again, to go and
let's have that rematch.
But if you go and sign and youspend $700 million on one player
and you didn't really lose awhole lot after that, you have
(12:14):
to now, you know, put your moneywhere your mouth is really and
go and and make it happen.
So I think the Mets have thebiggest, you know, the most to
lose here.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah, Soto was definitely huge for the Mets,
but let's ask our resident Metsfan here and drew.
But who do you think?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
which team has the most proof of this year?
Is it your Mets or Well?
I think everything TJ said isabsolutely correct.
I think the Mets have all thepressures on.
If I had to pick a team thathas a little bit more pressure,
one percent more, it's the teamdown the road, the new york
yankees.
Man they have.
They've spent so much money,they've spent, they've done so
many moves and what?
(12:57):
What is there to show for it?
Uh, when's the last thing theywant?
They want a world series,really.
Is it, derrick cheater?
I mean, we're talking what?
2009?
Speaker 1 (13:05):
2009, yeah or 09 09 10.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Yeah, I think it's every year you see this team in
the headlines, you see this, theteam, the bead they have, judge
.
They have the Bronx bombers,all this stuff and they they
haven't got it done.
And that is for a team like theMets, you know they do have.
They have a lot to prove, butthey're kind of starting now.
The Yankees have.
It's been a long year, longtime for this thing to really
(13:31):
figure it out and they haven'tdone it.
And I think if you are ayankees fan, you're starting a
little fed up.
When is it going to be our turntype deal, you know?
And it hasn't been there and Idon't think it's going to be
there moving forward.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
There's so many good teams there really are I think a
lot of the league, especiallyin the AL, have decided like hey
, why don't we do what theYankees have been doing for
years and open our pocketbooksand spend some money and get
some top talent.
Everyone, except for thePirates, apparently have decided
(14:05):
that we need to break out thecheckbook and sign some players.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Look at the AL East itself.
You have Baltimore, who'sreally good.
You have Toronto, who's not thebest, but they have some
players out there.
Boston's always going to beBoston.
You've got teams that are goingto compete with you in that AL
East that are not chumps anymore.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
They're not pushovers .
No, it's not just New York andBoston running that division,
it's not.
People are ready and I thinkthe Yankees have just relied on
that.
Let's just spend some money andwe'll be in the World Series,
and that's what's always worked.
And now it's not and they don'tknow what to do.
I don't think, because I don'tthink I've ever seen in a long
(14:45):
time, almost coming up on twodecades, where the Yankees
really haven't been thatrelevant when it comes to the
postseason.
And yeah, I'd have to agreewith you.
I was going to go Yankees onthis one and I hate the Yankees.
I root for the Red Sox becauseI hate the Yankees that much.
That's pretty much where it'sat.
(15:07):
But Tony, what about you?
Who has the most to prove thisyear?
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I'm going to have to say I have two teams that have
the most approved this year.
The first I'm going to have tosay is Toronto, because they've
had a lot of I like Toronto.
They've had a lot of youngtalent that's come through.
You have Bo Bichette, vladdy Jr.
They've got some young talentbut they've haven't won and
(15:32):
haven't been able to advance.
They made the playoffs with 89wins, from 21 to 23, having
89-92-91 wins, but they haven'tput it together and they think I
mean, how long is Vladdy goingto stay?
I mean, how long is Vladdy goingto stay?
How long do you think Vladdy'sgoing to stay before he goes
somewhere else?
Before he goes to an LA, goesto a New York, goes to a team
(15:56):
that can contend, becauseToronto's the only MLB team in
Canada and they've got a fanbase that does show up to games.
But you've got to, althoughit's nice to win 90-some-odd
games a year, you've got to haveresults.
I mean, I know the AL Eastisn't obviously the easiest
division, but that means you'vegot to make things happen.
(16:19):
And this second one is going tokind of be a strange answer.
But at this point, this team,really you can't fall off the
bottom, in this case the ChicagoWhite Sox.
Point this team.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
really you can't fall off the bottom, in this case
the chicago white socks becauseyou can't, you can't have a.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
You really, you really, you can't have another
121 loss season, that that justcan't happen.
You gotta, at some point you'vegotta trend up.
Am I saying that they're gonnawin the central?
No.
Am I saying they're gonna be500?
No.
Am I saying they're even gonnanot finish last?
(16:54):
No.
But you gotta that last seasonwas just an aberration, that
that was one of the worstseasons I've ever experienced as
a baseball fan I'm not a fan ofthe White Sox by any stretch.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
but I had to kind of feel sad because that's just
yeah, when you see pictures ofthe stadium completely empty on
like a Friday, saturday nightgame and there's five people in
the stands, it's like, okay,what do we got to do?
That's bad for baseball, that'sbad for, that's bad.
(17:30):
Yeah, that's just bad for thesport in general.
Because, you know, there's somany people that were screaming
after the season to sell theteam, move the team.
The White Sox aren't going tomake it in Chicago because of
this.
We already have a team inChicago.
That's actually, you know,putting up wins.
We don't need to.
And, yeah, when that'shappening, I mean, I I think if
(17:54):
they don't lose 100 games thisyear, it's a win for them.
They're moving in the rightdirection because because, yeah,
you lose 121 games.
How the pirates don't even lose121 games a year and they try
to lose like it's.
I don't know.
I've been shitting on thePirates this entire time.
I'm a huge Pirates fan, but I'mhoping somebody from Pittsburgh
(18:14):
listens to this show and maybelistens a little bit Like, hey,
let's spend some money, let's berelevant, because back in, oh,
what was it?
I think it was 11 or 12 whenthe Pirates made, when they had
AJ J Burnett and that, when theywere in the wildcard game, did
you, everybody, anybody see whatthe town of Pittsburgh did for
(18:37):
that team when they were there?
Like well?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
just listen to the games and just listen to it.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Listen, listen to that.
It's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
It's the Quato.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
The Quato call is it's the best atmosphere for pro
sports is Pittsburgh and I lovePittsburgh sports and I love
the Pirates and it's just I wantto see them when they had the
bat signal up on one of thebuildings and green lights when
Burnett was pitching and likeit's.
That's the kind of atmosphereyou want for baseball.
(19:09):
That is good for the sport andit's good for everybody.
That's the kind of atmosphereyou want for baseball.
That is good for the sport andit's good for everybody around
in the in the town of Pittsburghand yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And I and I, I love LA, I love the Dodgers in a
sense of like listen, they'reforcing everybody else's hand.
But sometimes you have firstpitch and those $10,000 seats in
the playoffs behind home plateare empty, waiting for the
celebrities and the seasonticket holders coming to sit
(19:37):
down there.
You're not going to see that atsmall market teams.
Those people are up.
You have kids, you haveeverybody moving.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
It's a blue collar men, women that are just there
and just want to root on theirteam, and that is 100%
Pittsburgh.
We spoke a little bit aboutteams moving and I want to get
y'all's thoughts on this, and TJwill stay with you.
What are your thoughts on theA's moving to Vegas?
(20:06):
I think that.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Maybe it's going to fall on deaf ears, but this is a
tone setter for owners.
Hopefully you know hey, a citycares for a team, people, the
fans.
That city cares for a team thatyou invest in and if you don't,
(20:31):
the fans will stop.
The fans will say hey, listen,it's not worth my time because
it's not worth the owner's time.
The a's ownership gave up andsaid you know what?
We're just going to be the lastplace team and be okay with it.
And fans don't like beinginsulted and they turn their
back.
They came out and showed itwhere they had that one fan uh
(20:53):
rebellion, where they sold outthe stadium.
Where they had that one fanrebellion, where they sold out
the stadium just because andthey sold it out in that last
year saying hey, we are all here, we have all these baseball
fans.
Please give us something tocome to the stadium to see.
Don't give us AAA and AA guysthat you brought up just because
we have nine players on thefield.
Give us something to cheer for.
(21:14):
And I think that moving the teamwas a Band-Aid on a bullet hole
and then to double down on it.
The owners really spit in theface of the fans because now the
A's are spending money, nowthey're signing people, now
they're extending contracts andit's like, listen, that was all
(21:36):
your fans were asking for.
So I think that there was maybea little bit of backhand.
You know shadiness where it'slike, hey, we just want to get
out of Oakland, let's find a wayout.
Vegas is a great spot for, youknow, people coming in tourism.
But you know and being aCleveland fan, we know what it's
like to not spend money andunfortunately it's really really
frustrating.
(21:57):
But you know, owners need tokind of step up and say, listen,
this is your investment, yourfans are your demand, you know.
So give us what we need to doand we'll keep coming.
We will give the ownersmillions and millions of dollars
as long as you give us aproduct to watch.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Yeah, I couldn't have said that better myself.
I think they're just trying toget everybody out of that
Northern California area andmove them all to Vegas, started
with the Raiders, and you knowit's happening now Got hockey
teams.
You know they're bringing prosports to Vegas.
But Drew, what about you?
What do you think about the A'smove?
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Yeah, it seems like Vegas is the place to be right
now, but no, I think TJ hit itright on the head.
Man, it's a shame because youhave a franchise that's been in
Oakland for so long and you seethese new not new cities but,
like the Golden Knights or, likeyou said, the Raiders, are
going to Vegas.
(22:57):
That's a cool place to be.
They're having success and youknow what?
The Raiders aren't good.
The golden Knights are okay,but they sell out stadiums,
people.
And if you're a fan of theOakland A's and you live in
Raleigh, north Carolina, you'regoing to say, all right, let's
go to Oak, let's go to Vegas andwatch them.
They get a, they get a trip outof it.
(23:18):
You know what I mean.
I don't think you're going tosee that too much in Oakland.
It's.
You know, vegas is Vegas,oakland, oakland.
Vegas is better.
It comes down to the situation.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Yeah, Alienating a fan base here, hope there's a
life in Oakland.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
But like you, but say it happened to the Guardians,
say Cleveland.
Can you imagine what wouldhappen in Cleveland?
It would be.
I think every fan would justlay in the stadium until they
said, no, we're not going to dothis anymore.
So I do feel bad for the smallmarkets, but it seems like in
2025, it's a new thing to do.
It's just like the transferportal Everyone's moving around
(23:58):
and trying to get to a betterspot.
I think he's the only thingtrying to do as well.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Yeah, tony, what are your thoughts?
Oh man, I.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
I don't like the move at all.
I still think they should be inOakland for a variety of
reasons.
I'm not going to ever call themjust the athletics.
I'm going to call them theOakland because they should
still be in Oakland.
I like seeing their postseasongames, especially when they beat
Detroit bottom of the ninth in2012.
(24:32):
I really think in 2020, if theywere able to have fans, that
stadium when they played againstthe White Sox would have been
rocking.
Yeah, it's just a major slap inthe face and John Fisher just
doesn't care.
It's just a slap in the face tothe people who support Oakland.
(24:52):
Oakland won a World Series Likethe city's lost three
franchises in five years.
Yes, the Warriors are still inthe Bay Area, but they're in San
Francisco.
They're on the other side.
You've got the Raiders who arein Vegas.
Even the people in Vegas don'twant the move.
(25:13):
People in Vegas don't want themthere.
I in Vegas don't want themthere.
I mean, I know Vegas iseventually going to get a
franchise rightfully so but itjust seems really, really,
really short-sighted.
And for those of you who areA's fans and those of you who
are Oakland and the Bay Area, myheart goes out to you.
(25:35):
My heart really, truly does goout to you, and John Fisher is
one of the worst owners inbaseball and it's a real slap in
the face that they're actuallyspending money now that they're
up and sat from that.
Yes, they're still in NorCal,but you're playing in a AAA ball
.
You're not going to get thatpassion, that noise, that
(25:59):
Section 116, that soccer-typeatmosphere that you're going to
get up in Sacramento like youwould have in Oakland.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Yeah, I mean, I fear the day that I think baseball
and a lot of pro sports aregoing to this.
I fear the day that there'sgoing to be no more small market
teams.
It's going to be all largemarket New York's, your LA's,
your Chicago's, your Boston's,miami's You're going to see all
(26:33):
of these big market where, okay,people want to come to these
destinations to see a game andthere's going to be no more
Cleveland, no more Oakland, nomore Pittsburgh, none of that,
and it's.
It's just going to be bad forsports in general.
You need these low market teamsbecause you get a different
(26:59):
aspect of the game.
These guys aren't making thetop of the Juan Soto type money,
but they're playing their damnhearts out and fans can see that
and fans want to see that.
They want to see the guys thatare going to go out there and
bust their ass for nine inningsand and put a good product on
(27:19):
the field.
They might lose the game, butthey're, you know they're.
They're out there and it's yeah.
I think that's yeah.
That's where it's heading.
That's just what I seehappening and I don't want to
see it happen, but I thinkthat's where it's where it's
heading.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Fans love the underdog story, right?
Absolutely.
They want the David versusGoliath.
They want that team to takedown.
They want the small team totake down the big team.
That's why you have, I mean, LA, new York, boston, whatever you
want to call it they have thebiggest enemies, they have the
biggest because they just wantto see them fall.
They want to see them get thereand then they want to see them
fall.
You know, that's just the adage.
Where it's they, you got tohave it, you have to have it,
(28:03):
and that's the so for me.
I think of the comparison,right?
Ask everybody in the league,ask every fan, really ask every
manager do you want Juan Soto ordo you want Jose Ramirez?
On a day-to-day basis, on aneveryday basis, right, and every
team will be like I have a guythat steals base, steals 40
(28:23):
bases, hits 40 home runs andhits 40 doubles.
But I have the guy that hits 45home runs with a shuffle that
you know can sometimes play somedefense.
It's like listen, one guy willsell tickets, one guy will win
me a game yep yeah or even
Speaker 2 (28:37):
if Detroit knocked off Cleveland in game five, I
would vote for Detroit.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
It's still fine it's still with that series.
You're looking at that serieslike, okay, these two teams are
two just grinders going at eachother, so yeah yeah, I'd love to
watch those games and you knowjust the teams that you know are
just gonna.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
It might be a one to nothing victory, but you know
these guys are out theregrinding and you know it's in.
It's a good game to watch.
Um, but drew, let's go to youfor this one.
Uh, will the yankees or themets go further this?
Speaker 3 (29:11):
year oh, that's a hot topic in this Yankees or the
Mets, you know what.
And I got a shirt upstairs.
My mom's a big Yankees fan and,um, when I was, I know right,
and we when she went to New York.
When, uh, this is going back Iheard her friends go to New York
, she brought me back a subwayseries shirt that I still have.
(29:34):
I thought it was really apretty cool shirt.
Anyways, I think you might see asubways yeah, I think you might
see a subway series this year.
I really do, both teams arereally good.
Um, I'm gonna go with my mets,though, when at all in that
situation.
So, uh, I say the mets aregonna go a little bit further I
(29:54):
had a feeling that's whereyou're going.
That's why I wanted to get toyou first on this one Tony, what
about you?
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I'm going to say that I think that I'm going to go on
a limb and I'm going to say theMets.
I'm going to say the Mets, yeahmeet the Mets.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
I'm just trying to hype Drew up right now, tony,
it's not that I hate the YankeesI do, but that's not the point.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
I think the Mets will go further, because I think
that they can potentially winthe NL East.
I mean, they rode that momentum, with the power of God and
Grimace on their side, to asix-game series.
And the Mets, even though theyare based in New York, are an
underdog franchise and seen asthe little brother of the
Yankees.
And the Yankees, I mean GarrettCole is out for the 2025.
(30:45):
John Carlos Stanton's injured.
This is not the same Yankeeteam of years past.
This isn't the same Yankeesteam that's going to scare the
crap out of you.
Yeah, I think they'll probablymake playoffs, but I don't see
them making a deep run,especially now that Garrett
(31:06):
Cole's out for the year.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Yeah, you lose one of your aces.
Pitching Stanton's hurt Judgeisn't really doing much.
I don't know.
Tj, let's go to you before so Ican collect myself before this
one.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Hot take Yankees do not make the playoffs.
We have Baltimore, who is solid.
I think that, whether it'sBoston or Toronto, one of them
has to step up this year.
And we always discount the Raysand the Rays have always been
just kind of there, just kind ofthere taking a playoff spot
(31:46):
from somebody.
But the injury to Cole ismassive.
They're going to do everythingthey can to try to fix it.
And let's not forget, luis Gilis out for a little bit.
He is not starting the seasonright now, and that's two major
pitchers that they had highhopes For going into the season.
Judge does not have theprotection that he once had.
(32:08):
Rizzo is still on the Freeagent list, I believe.
I mean that lineup.
What is that lineup going tolook like?
So I mean, you might have a lotof young guys, you might have
some guys that come in and do acouple of good things, but they
just don't have the protection.
And when you don't have alineup that has good protection
for your, for your top guys, youhave to rely on your pitching
(32:29):
staff and defense.
They do not play defense welland their pitching staff is hurt
.
I think they're going to digthemselves a hole too early in
the season.
Um, to come back, and I thinkthe american league is too good,
I think the al central is gonnastick around and just kind of
be around.
That 80.
You're gonna have three teamsthat between 85 and 95 wins.
(32:53):
I think that, um, you know, themariners had a terrible year
but I think they're gonna comeback this year.
I think that there's just otherteams in the ale that aren't
gonna allow the yankees to sneakinto a wild card team.
So I think the mets are gonnaat least make the playoffs.
So, um, I will say the mets getfurther, further.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
I will add this Outside of Judge and Stanton,
nobody in that Yankee linescares me.
I'm just going to be completely, I'm just going to be.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
No, I've been screaming for somebody to sign
Rizzo.
I mean, you've got a guy likethat that's on the free agent
market, it's just.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
I know a certain Something's up with him.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
They have some insider information.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
Something's gotta be wrong, that's the only thing I
can think of how do you not signRizzo?
Somebody's gonna sign him.
I mean, somebody's gonna signhim, but why hasn't he been
signed yet?
Speaker 4 (33:47):
Even like a Guardians , where they say, hey, we'll
take Carlos Santana You'retelling me Rizzo's at least even
, or maybe a little bit aboveCarlos Santana when it comes to
hey, I would like a veteran atthe corner, somebody that will
play every day, maybe somebodythat could a good contact, a
lefty swing.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yeah, come on.
Yeah, I think, yeah, pittsburgh.
What are you doing?
What's wrong?
Speaker 4 (34:13):
How could you just?
Speaker 1 (34:14):
What could go wrong?
Speaker 4 (34:15):
Yeah right.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Okay, you're in Pittsburgh.
What do you lose?
Let's sign Rizzo, let's get himon a one-year deal, and if it
doesn't, work out oh, we screwedup, sorry.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Or sign with the White Sox.
Somebody's got to get over tohim.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
There's a line over there.
Go sit and write it.
Hey guys, we're running downnear the end of the episode here
.
I do want to get this lastquestion in here, cause I think
it's going to be a good one, andthat's do you think there needs
to be a salary cap in baseballand TJ?
I want to start with you.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
Salary cap no.
Salary floor yes, I want.
I think that these athletes puttheir bodies through so much
and we don't even know thetravel, the every single day and
you know, you don't know ifyou're going to have a 3 year
career or a 10 year career.
So these players deserve moneyand we need to get these fans.
(35:12):
We need to get fans out to theballpark.
So there needs to be a littlebit more promoting when it comes
to that.
Make the game accessible forkids.
I'm fully believe on the.
You know, if you're 12 andunder, get in free.
Just get kids in the park.
But a salary floor yes, Becauseyou have your Oaklands, you
have your whoever.
It is small markets, I get it.
No-transcript.
(35:54):
I'm going to invest in myproduct, so give me a floor.
I'm okay with no cap, but giveme a floor.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
I like that.
I never thought of it that way.
That's a good point.
But, Drew, what about you?
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Yeah, that's a really good point, tj.
I say yes through SB's salarycap.
Added in three sports MLB, nfl,nba.
Nfl is one of my most supported.
I watch and pay attention toand it's so interesting how
these GM's maneuver what theycan do with money and all that,
(36:30):
and it's cool to see how they dothat.
And MLB sent them to a 100million dollar contract for a 10
year, and you know what I mean.
Like there's no strategy to it.
I see the strategy in the nfl,which I like, and I think if you
brought that to the mlb it'd bea whole different game.
The yankees and the guardianswould be on the same level floor
and that's something you wouldnever see, ever.
(36:50):
You know what I.
So I think it would be coolerto see a salary cap in the MLB.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Okay, tony.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
I think we should see a salary floor.
I agree with TJ and I wantminor leaguers to be paid more
as well, because not all minorleaguers are going to make it to
the show.
Good point Even if you don'tmake it to the show, you should
be able to earn a living, alivable wage, if you're going to
be 28, 29, 30, a double A,triple A, maybe, you know, maybe
(37:23):
that little extra pay mightmotivate you in case you do get
that call at 30, 31, 32 yearsold.
But if you're not, if you don'tpay them, then they've got to
make ends meet by doing odd jobsand stuff like that.
They should be paid a fair,livable wage, especially for
what they do playing ball in thesummer, trying to make it to
(37:47):
the show.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
Yeah, I agree with that that the minor leaguers
need paid, Mainly becausethey're putting a better product
on the field, because they'retrying to get to the show.
Let's pay them.
Tj, I think you just kind offloored the end of the show here
with your salary floor ideabecause I wasn't even thinking
(38:10):
of that.
That wasn't even a thought inmy mind.
That could be a thing.
Let's tell teams you have tospend this much money in salary,
at least this much money onyour players.
I think it would force teams to, like you said, pay these guys
and let's put a good product onthe field.
Speaker 4 (38:33):
Rizzo's not in free agency.
If you had to spend moneybecause it's like, hey, here's
the dollars that we have, who'sthe best available?
Let's go put a bid on the bestavailable and then, okay, find
the next best available.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
You know and if they don't come to you, you know like
, you have to spend that money.
You have to spend that amountof money.
I don't care if it's 100million, whatever, 200, whatever
it is, you have to spend thatamount of money.
I don't care if it's a hundredmillion, whatever, 200, whatever
it is, you have to spend thisamount of money.
You spend one more power to you.
If you can't but get them to acertain point, like I, yeah,
reserves available, okay, okay,give them 50, 60 million.
(39:07):
You know, make them an offer.
I mean, I don't know any humanbeing in their right mind that's
like, oh, $50 million, no, no,thank you.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
No, I'm good.
Speaker 1 (39:19):
I'm cool.
I don't know anybody who wouldturn that down.
But yeah, that's a great wayand I think that's a great
cliffhanger to leave everybodyleft with here.
Because that is going to do itfor this week's episode of the
ride home rants podcast.
I want to thank all my guestsTony, drew and TJ for joining
get to talk all things MLB andbaseball.
(39:42):
I look forward to seeing howthe season plays out and how
everything happens and hopefullywe can have our predictions
come true.
But, as always, if you enjoyedthe show, be a friend, tell a
friend.
If you didn't show, be a friend, tell a friend.
If you didn't tell them.
Anyways, they might like itjust because you didn't.
That's going to do it for meand I will see y'all next week.
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