On this week’s edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob discusses the franchise-best start for the Kansas City Royals, the MLB-best start for the Philadelphia Phillies and Aaron Judge's recent hot streak. Plus, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson swings by. Later, MLBBro.com contributor and Yankees Unloaded host Gary Sheffield Jr checks in. Finally, we’ve got appearances by MLBBro.com managing editor JR Gamble, analytics guru Anthony Masterson and gambling expert David Gascon.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
From the Berkshars to the sound from wherever you live
in MLB America. This is inside the Parker. You give
us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop
on Major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame
voter number seventy, Rob Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Oh my goodness, gracious, what a great show we have
for you today.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
We're gonna talk with red centerfielder Will Benson.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
He drops by also from mlbbro.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Dot Com and Yankees Unloaded. It's Gary Sheffield Junior plus
foul affair.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Let's go.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Better to lead off, it's getting robbed to keep them on.
Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major
League Baseball. Number one, Man oh man, I.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Mean, you know what, the last few years, the Phillies
have been good. Two years ago they went to the
World Series. Last year we thought they were gonna go
again until they got knocked off by Arizona.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
But this team is off to a great.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Start because the two previous years they didn't play well
out the gate. Remember Joe Girardi got fired two years ago.
Rob Thompson took over and they wound up going all
the way to the World Series. But this year, wake
the kids, call the neighbors. They are off to the
best start in Major League Baseball since the Seattle Mariners
(01:38):
in two thousand and one started thirty eight and twelve
and went on the tie an MLB record with one
hundred and sixteen wins. There's only one caveat of one
problem with that start that the Mariners have. They failed
to win the World Series. In fact, I remember that
year very vividly. They got knocked out by the Yankees
(02:02):
and did not make the World Series despite winning one
hundred and sixteen games. They had a juggernaut, a great team.
But this is a great start for the Phillies. They
were off to a tremendous start, the best start fifty
games start in Phillies franchise history. So they're they're touching
a lot of bells, ringing at blown, a lot of whistles.
(02:24):
Bryce Harper, we talk about him all the time. It's
more than just Bryce Harper, but he's the star. He
really has turned it up and become that guy in Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Uh, They're pitching is great.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
They've just done so many things and here at the
Phillies thirty six and fourteen through fifty games. Only the
nineteen ninety eight Yankees thirty seven and seven and thirteen
had a better record and the Mariners thirty eight and twelve.
The Yankees won the World Series that year, but the
(03:01):
Mariners did not, so this will be interesting as we
go forward. But the Phillies, not the Dodgers, are the
best team in the National League, and it's.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Not even close.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Number two.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I don't think anybody's.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Surprised by this, But Aaron Judge is all the way
back and is the monster that he has been in
Major League baseball. Obviously, two years ago he won the
American League MVP, set the all time record for home
runs in the American League, and he was off to
a terrible start before April twenty second, he was batting
(03:35):
one eighty three and twenty two games with three home
runs and eleven RBIs. And now here we are coming
into Thursday, he's raised that eighty three batting average to
two sixty eight. He's also had eleven home runs and
twenty three RBIs since April twenty second, and now has
(03:58):
fourteen home runs on the season, thirty four RBIs, and
the Yankees have winning like crazy. They got great pitching
e Lra under two going into Thursday, and John Carlos
stands hitting, Juan Soto's hitting, you know they Judge is hitting.
They're scoring like it feels like almost six runs a night,
(04:18):
five and a half six runs a night. And they
have the best record in the American League. So nobody's
surprised that when Aaron Judge is healthy, he's one of
the best players in the game. And last year wasn't
healthy and his numbers struggled, and the Yankees didn't make
the postseason, and he got off to a slow start.
(04:40):
Remember he was sidelining in spring training a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
And now you.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Gotta believe he's fully healthy, fully engaged, and is going
to be a monster for the rest of the twenty
twenty four season.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Number three.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
The Kansas City Royals have been around for a while.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
They've had street Every seems like every ten or twelve years,
they put together a team and they come out of nowhere.
We remember in twenty fifteen they won the World Series.
They beat the Mets. It wasn't forty years ago, it
was less than ten years ago. And it feels like
that that they were good. You know that they'll be good,
and they'll put together a team, and they're off to
(05:20):
their best start through fifty games in their franchise history.
And the Royals just had another perfect home stand. That's
two times this season that they've had perfect home stands.
And we know this too. The pitching has been tremendous.
(05:40):
That's a big part of why they're good. We know
Bobby wit Junior is a tremendous player. The Royals paid
them big time because he's going to be a franchise
player for a long time, you know, in Kansas City.
But their pitching is eighth coming into Thursday, they're eighth
in Baseball in pitch. That's why they are where they
(06:03):
are and why they're off to this great start in
that division. You know, people the Guardians are in first place,
but there it's Kansas City right on their heels.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So we'll have to see how long this lasts.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
But right now, it's hard to discount where the Royals
are and how long they'll stay there because with Bobby
wit Junior and pitching, how in the world is this
team not going to be in the mix in the
Al Central.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Here comes the big interview listen and learn.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
It's so good.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Let's welcome in Will Benson, centerfielder for the Cincinnati Reds.
Will thanks for joining us.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
Of course, it's an honor to be here.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Appreciated, my man.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Let's talk about the Cincinnati Reds and last year, guys
were closer making the playoffs, didn't quite get there, but
coming back you had to feel good about the team
and the chances this year.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
Yeah, absolutely, just really wanted to build off of what
we did last year. And obviously you know where we
are right now. We're not necessarily where we would like
to be, but I think in terms of the team,
you know, identity and mo it's still there. So I
still I'm very hopeful for what we can accomplish this year.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Got a lot of young guys, exciting team.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
It feels good though, right, like you're going moving forward,
not stale.
Speaker 6 (07:33):
Absolutely, it's a true blessing to be with the the
talent and the obviously the group of guys that we
have because we're all in a similar age, similar poar
in our career, so we're able to really grow and
learn together. So regardless, yeah, I think whatever we're doing,
it's always in the step forward because we are we're
(07:53):
moving as a unit, and that's something that's that's very powerful,
and that's something that's going to last, you know, hopefully
a while, you know, if they keep us like this.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Yeah, talk about I know you came from the Cleveland organization,
but coming to Cincinnati, the history of Cincinnati, the first
professional sports team in American history, Cincinnati and their love
for baseball and that city. What was it like playing
in Cincinnati.
Speaker 6 (08:17):
It's it's a true it's a true blessing. I mean, yeah,
coming from Cleveland, you know, they do a good job
over there, But when I when I came to Cincinnati,
I was just kind of amazed and wild at all
the rich, you know history that came along with which
is putting on the jersey the opening day was just
(08:38):
like wow, they had a Reds like Hall of Fame
like Galler or whatever. Wow, Like you know, it's just
like little things that the Reds do that it just
makes me feel, you know, very honored and blessed to
be a Red.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
We're talking with Will Benson, centerfielder for the Cincinnati Reds,
joining us here on inside the Parker. Let's talk about you.
This past weekend. You played in LA against the Dodgers,
your first home run or walk off against the Dodgers.
Just talk about that moment.
Speaker 6 (09:13):
It was crazy, it was surreal. You know, it is
a moment in time. Obviously I'll never forget, but I remember,
you know a lot of it was me just you know,
ready to do something cool, you know, in the ninth
inning and you know, just telling myself, you know, I'm
(09:34):
gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. And you know,
when I actually did it, it was like wow. And
then obviously you had to you had you had a
blackout moment.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
And all the body when you run, we're running around
the bases, what were you thinking?
Speaker 5 (09:46):
Like?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Really were you like?
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Did I just do this? Like this is what you
used to dream of?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Am I?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Right?
Speaker 6 (09:50):
Yeah? I definitely was like an absolute shock that actually
did it. And running around the bases honestly fast, It's
just like everything was moving fast. I didn't even realize
like the lights that were going on. Honestly, it was
just an overwhelming joy and excitement to get to home
(10:12):
plate so I can be with my teammates and celebrate.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
As you move forward, a young player in this game,
twenty five years old, talk about the hitting aspect, what
do you need to do to improve on the hitting
part and play in the field. Center field is a
big position.
Speaker 6 (10:26):
Yeah, definitely on the hitting part is consistency and just
really nailing in the things that make me good and
understanding what makes me good and just falling on that,
you know, and constantly you know, repping that out. And
I think as I continue to do those things, I'll
(10:48):
be building blocks or something that'd be beautiful when i'm
you know, let's say two years from now, you know,
twenty seven years old, it'd be like, man, I really
have built a foundation and a process that I can
lean on. So that is what I you know, feel
in my heart will lead to consistency. And then from
the you know, defensive side and being a center field
(11:09):
I mean, quite honestly, you know defense playing center field.
I mean I don't want to you know, jinx myself here,
but out of all, out of all the three, you know,
center field is one of the easier, you know, outfit
positions because you can see everything so clearly. So I
think with that, it's just being a good leader, communicating
with my corners and as well as just getting good
(11:31):
reads on balls and good Jones because I have a
lot of room to run based off of that read.
So just continuing to uh hone in on the details
in center fields and be husman.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Last thing, uh young in your career. But you've been
around to some ballparks. I don't know if you made
them to all yet? No, not yet, right, Which one's favorite?
Just playing other than Cincinnati obviously, I'm just saying as
a as an opponent coming into town.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Yeah, my my number I can do my top three
for sure. My number one is Toronto. That was the
first road series that I went on, a road trip
that I went on in the big leagues. And obviously
Toronto is beautiful. It's insane.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
It's a great international city.
Speaker 6 (12:13):
Oh my god, it's incredible. And they they you know,
pulled the dome, the the top back and you had
the needle right there. It was like where you know,
it was you know, a kid's dream to do that.
Then number two can be Boston. Boston was surreal because
you know, sadly, my my father in law, he had
(12:33):
passed away right before I went on that trip, and
you know, I spoke with him and that was a
series in my big league career where I felt like,
you know, I can do this and I can play
this game at a high level. And Boston was that
place for me. And then obviously it's Boston, like it's
absolutely beautiful. And then third, this was a tough one,
(12:53):
but I really like Chicago. The Cubs, just how they
do it the whole the day games, the crowd, the.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
It's intimate, it's old, but it's baseball.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I'm all right, I love it too.
Speaker 6 (13:07):
It's it's again. It's if you feel like you're in
a moment of time of history that you know will
forever be remembered, you know. And then that's how it
felt like every game I played there, and it was
you know, you get that feeling when like you're truly
honored and you're truly blessed to run out there. And
(13:27):
I felt that every time. And that was at Rikley.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
So last thing for Will Benson favorite player growing up
and who did you follow and did you copy the
batting stance and all that stuff we all do as
guys who loved the game of baseball.
Speaker 6 (13:41):
Yeah, there's there's three players. Number one was Michel Cabrera.
I did try to copy his swing, but you know
that is I've.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Worked in Detroit for twenty years. I covered his career
there so tremendous.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
He's incredible and I was I was starstruck when I
handed him his retirement get from the but it was you.
I mean, his career speaks alone. He was a huge
inspiration for me, and he made the game look really easy.
Jason Hayward was the second guy, really honestly the main guy,
because he came from a similar area as myself. We
(14:18):
played on the same like travel organization, so I kind
of really just follow his footsteps, and he was a
comparable guy for me in the draft, so I really
just tried to emulate him so that I could be
in the same position as him. And then lastly, Barry
Bonds is. Yeah, he's the greatest player to ever step on.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
The greatest one I ever saw play.
Speaker 6 (14:38):
It's really incredible, and he's he's an inspiration to me
because I strived for excellence and he was excellent. And
so if I can just kind of touch some of
the things that he did or even learned some of
the things that he did, you know, I'll be happy
with my career. So and I don't have to have
the two hundred and thirty two walks in the season
(14:59):
or you know the fourteen None of that, right, but
just close, if I could just get closer that Uh.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
There you go, all right, Will Benson, thanks for joining
us man. We appreciate you so much.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
Of course, thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
It was a big week in the big leagues. Who's
who's a five? Don't believe? Is it foul or is
it fair? And now from mlbdbro dot com here's jrgamball.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Is it foul or fair to say that Ron Washington
has exceeded expectations so far for the La Angels South?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
That is a foul ball.
Speaker 7 (15:47):
I don't think Ron Washington has exceeded expectations.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
The Angels are twenty and thirty.
Speaker 7 (15:52):
They are competitive, They don't have the worst record in
the American League or even their own division, the AL West,
and they still aren't very good. Washington has an entire
culture to revamp, and it won't happen overnight. He also
has to do it without Mike Trout for the foreseeable future.
For the team to not have packed it in and
for younger players such as Joe Adell to be blossoming
(16:14):
under this system shows that Washington is doing exactly what
he planned for year one of this rebuild, and that's
when he thought he would have trout. So solid job
by Ron. Let's just see how the guys continue to respond.
There's going to be a lot of tough days where
he's going to have to call these guys out on
the carpet and give them a little veteran ribbon. They
(16:35):
just want a huge two to one game against the
Vision rival Houston on Wednesday night. So things are moving
in a positive direction.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
We shall see. It's time for the pocket Protector Centro.
The analytic numbers you need to know, Well, maybe.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Anthony Masterson is his name, BS analytics is his game.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
What do you got for me, Anthony?
Speaker 8 (17:00):
The best parts of baseball as anybody can help contribute
to the legacy of the sport itself. Rob Friedman, otherwise
known as the Pitching Ninja on social media, was an
attorney with an affinity for baseball, especially the guys on
the mound. He loves seeing the best hurlers in the
world make the best hitters in the world look foolish.
Thus was born the Sword. Initially, it was a turn
from the movie The Benchwarmers Don't Chop at It. It's
(17:21):
not a sword, but it's basically a way to say
the pitcher made the batter look so foolish his swing
might go viral. In January, MLB and Statcast teamed up
with the Pitching Ninja to create an official stat for
the sword. With the brand new bat speed bat tracking
ability debuted recently, we can now officially define a sword
as a swinging strike where the swing is incomplete and
(17:42):
the bat speed is in the lowest tenth percentile. For pitchers,
the leaderboard is a badge of pride, and through Monday's games,
two pitchers top the leaderboard in swords this season, the
Orioles Corbin Burns and the Angels Patrick Sandoval, both with eleven.
The guys with double digits are some impressive names as well,
like Logan Gilbert, Jared Jones, Aaron Nola, and Chris Saale.
(18:03):
On the batter side, the leaderboard is not a list
you want to top. The Angel Zach Netto leads all
hitters with fifteen swords this season, followed by All Stars
Kyle Schwarber, who Lui Rodriguez, and Fernando Tatis Junior. So hey,
even the best can have it bat at bat or two.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Turn money into more money. Now it's time for betting
on the basis with Dave Gascott. Love that money, Love
that money.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Hey, Rob.
Speaker 9 (18:28):
Last weekend of baseball here in the month of May,
and then we gear towards June and the dog days
of summer. Dodgers are in Cincinnati against the Reds. James
Packson has an undefeated record so far five and zero
two point eight four el against Graham Ashcraft. That's the
opposing side in this one. I like Cincinnati just because
of the dog Dodgers are always going to be heavy favorites,
(18:48):
especially against teams that are under five hundred. I will
take Cincinnati, though, to pull off the upset here against
the Dodgers to win Friday evening. A little bit different
of a sea as we go back to the West
Coast Padres and Yankees. It gives us a rehash of
the nineteen ninety eight World Series for San Diego.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Got swept you.
Speaker 9 (19:05):
Darbus is on the BUF for San Diego and this
one four to one record eight two point zero eight.
It is sparkling. I will take the Friars at home
against the Bronx Bombers, and then a little bit different
the seed in Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins. Miami a
shade of themselves compared to last season. Zach Gallon on
the BOMP So far this season, he hasn't been bad,
(19:27):
hasn't been as good as last season, but nevertheless still sharp.
Five and three, three point zero two era. I got
the snakes at home to take care of the Marlins.
Speaker 7 (19:38):
It's the Gambler here. Vice president of operations for mlbbro
dot Com an executive producer of the MLB Bro Show
podcast The Mixtape.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
Every Friday, we bring you the best from the world
of black and brown baseball. We covered the seven point
two percent of melanated me leaguers from soup to nuts,
but with our own cultural flair and unique voice, will
take you on a ride reflecting on the accomplishments, clutch moments,
and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe
(20:15):
into baseball.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie Betts.
Speaker 7 (20:19):
Doctor k to doctor Sticks, from bro Bombs to stolen
bases to black aces. We're live at the ballparks and
also bringing you segments like Classic Hits with David Grubb,
The Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the walk off, and
Going Deep just the name a few of the segments
that truly capture.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
The voice of Black baseball. If things get.
Speaker 7 (20:42):
Out of hand is the Boss, Rob Parker, He's kicking
up dust. We will gladly pay you on Tuesday from
an MLB bro doubleheader today. Remember the heart of the
game lies in the diversity of the game and the
spirit of black baseball that dates back to the Negro leagues.
The Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, making sure that
(21:04):
you stay on top of the game and in touch
with the soul of MLB. Fuck up for a wild
baseball journey, showing respect to the Ogs and highlighting the
new breed of melanated mal morado. First thing through MLB's pipeline,
all pitching with the sound of Black Baseball.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
We got the best starting five in the business.
Speaker 7 (21:25):
Listen to the MLB Bro Show podcast the Mixtape on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Wherever you get your podcasts. When Rob was a newspaper columnist,
he lived by this model. If I'm writing, I'm ripping,
Let's bring in a writer or broadcaster, old or new.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Now Let's welcome into the podcast. Gary Sheffield Junior. He
is a content creator for mlbbro dot com. Also, he
has Yankees unloaded on YouTube. Hey Gary, welcome to Inside
the Parker.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
How you doing, my man, Rob, I'm doing good.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Well.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
First of all, I'm a little distracted. I'm looking at
my phone and it's buzzing off the hook. I'm wondering
what's going on our MLB bro John Carlos stand to
hit a bomb, so one of that.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Ready, that's right, My goodness, gracious, there you go. He's
really turned it around real quickly. Let's just go right there.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Brian Cashman was critical of him in the off season,
kind of did something general managers don't do. We call
out a player, basically saying he will get hurt at
some point. And John Carlos had a really good season
for the Yankees, and he's been healthy.
Speaker 5 (22:38):
Yeah, I mean, and you don't really like watching guys
get called out, but sometimes players need that, right Like
sometimes you need a shot in the arm. Someone needs
to write you off and that gets you off your feet.
And so that's what I actually like about what the
Yankees are doing. For the first time ever, they're not
comfortable with what they output and just for a profit.
And I think John Carlow responds better to that than
(23:00):
what people are giving him credit for.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
Let's go here, Let's stick with the Yankees here and
Juan Soto, I mean, he's been a godsend for the Yankees.
He's embraced playing in the Bronx with the fans. Everybody
can't play in New York ere, you know that, but
he's been able to adapt. Should the Yankees, like you know,
try to make a deal during the season or just
(23:24):
wait till after the season like they did with Judge,
they let it play out and then they you know,
other guys are going to jump in and bid, but
they ultimately won because they offered enough money and Judge
wanted to wear the pinstripes.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
Well, there's this narrative going around that the Yankees have
an opportunity to sign him before the offseason, and if
that happens, it's just because Juan Soto wants it to happen,
has nothing to do with what the Yankees want. Because
people need to remember when that four hundred and forty
million dollar offer was floated around two years ago for
Juan Soto and Washington. Everyone says, oh, he just turned
(23:58):
down four to forty, so where's the real number gonna be?
But no one really tells you is for fifteen years.
You're not getting Won Soto for under thirty a year.
Just not gonna happen. So if the Yankees really want
to make a deal with Wan Soto, which they can do,
you're gonna have to float in the five hundred to
six hundred million dollar range. And if you're not doing that,
you might as well not even walk up to the table.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
So you think he'll get six hundred.
Speaker 5 (24:21):
Million absolutely whatever, mid thirties for twelve or thirteen years,
because you have to remember, Rob, he's twenty five.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
No, I'm only a young guy. He's been around for
a while.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
He's won a World Series, so people he's appears older.
But wow, six hundred million, I just I could see
maybe five. I'm not so sure six.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
You know what, Rob, people your age tend to complain
that they want to complain that guys are getting paid
for what they did in the past. Well, Wan Soto
is right in the middle of his prime. He's twenty
five years old. He's ready for the next decade to
be the best he's ever been. That's what you pay for.
So if I'm pay for anybody, it's a show. Heyo Tani,
it's Ajan Soto. It doesn't happen every so often where
(25:07):
you see a player like this who's gonna give you
his best years.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Our guest is Gary Sheffield Junior from mlbbro dot com
and Yankees Unloaded on YouTube, so you could take a
look at that.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Check that out as well.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Let's go to the Cincinnati where has this star shortstop
Ellie de la Cruz is on pace to steal ninety
nine one hundred bases And I'm crying foul. I'm sorry, Gary,
I mean, the bases are the size of pizza.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Boxes, and I just I think that I like.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
That baseball once that get the stolen base back in
the game and all that. And I know they did
part of it because of safety, but it does seem
if Ricky Henderson and Vince Coleman and Lou Brock were
playing with the bases this big and you can't throw
over more than twice, I think they'd have two hundred
stolen bases.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
Yeah, no, I see talking about it feels like in
basketball they widen the rim. It just doesn't seem right.
And for a lot of people, when you start projecting, Okay,
where's Ellie going with this stolen based number, Like what
number are we going to be looking at? A lot
of people are looking at triple digits on a hundred stolen bases,
And the first name you think of is Ricky Henderson,
the greatest stolen based king merchant in the history of
(26:20):
the world. Like, it'll never be topped. But one thing's
for certain that year in nineteen eighty with Oakland, it's
not the same thing as Ellie stealing one hundred bases. Today,
it's still impressive. I'm going to watch it. He's must
see TV. But the comparison is just apple st oranges.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Yeah, I'm with you. I just can't look at it
the same. That base is pretty darn big. Let's go
to the Houston Astros got off to an awful start,
still playing under five hundred at home and the road
they're under five hundred. But they coming into Thursday, they
at one seven of their last ten.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Are they back or is this a mirage?
Speaker 5 (26:58):
Well, I mean at least some of their DNA's back,
because you saw they lost their first two games in
New York and everyone said, well, when are they gonna
punch back? And I told people, I'm fading the sweep
and Houston's gonna find their identity at some point. They
haven't gotten anybody out this year. Starting pitching has been atrocious,
but that lineup, the Alex Bregman's where have they been? Well,
(27:19):
they're starting to heat up now and you start to
see them getting back into the win column. So I'm
not gonna give up on Houston. I think they have
too much of a winning pedigree. And I know a
lot of people want to say that they won because
of the cheating scan and all that They've won in
much more than just that season where they were caught cheating,
So I tend to give them a lot more credit.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
I'm not giving up.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
How about the Yankees have the best pitching EORA and
Major League Baseball under three coming into Thursday, and that's
with Al Garrett Cole their ace on the America League
Cy Young Award winner a year ago. Is that scary?
Can the Yankee pitching get better?
Speaker 5 (27:56):
Of course? Well, when you have the best pitcher in
baseball at least right now, won the Cy Young last year,
and this is somebody who didn't necessarily have an outlier season.
Garrett cole Is, he's habitually amazing. And when you add
him to what the pitching coach and Matt Blake has
done in New York, they're gonna be scary. And now,
for the first time ever, the Yankees aren't just spinning
(28:19):
the ball well, they're not just pitching well, they're hitting.
And that's things to Juan Soto, who we obviously talked
about earlier in the show. So the Yankees right now
just have all the right mix. Their pitching is just nasty.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
No doubt. Under three Eerra here we are almost June.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
I mean, that's incredible for this game of baseball, you know,
with all the hitting and what's going on. Last thing, Gary,
the biggest disappointment so far this season, what team would
you say that is?
Speaker 8 (28:47):
For you?
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Oh, that's the Twins.
Speaker 5 (28:51):
It has to be the Minnesota Twins because you really
have to think about what's going on outside in the division.
So if you really think about this, they're looking at
a team in the Kansas City Royals where they're not
spending any money and they're good once every decade, and
it just so happens everyone was looking at the Twins, saying,
(29:11):
at some point or another, you guys need to take
a step forward. They didn't do that, and now it
seems like they're on the outside looking in, and they're
talking about teams in the division like Detroit who didn't
hit on their number one overall pick with Spencer Torkosen
hasn't proven he's a franchise cornerstone player at all. The
Minnesota Twins have to be a lot better than what
they've been right now. So they're a major disappointment.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
How about the Rangers.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
I mean, here's the only thing is they're under five hundred.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
They're struggling. You know, are they going? Is that?
Speaker 4 (29:46):
Is that a one year deal? They won the World Series?
They're incredible year ago. And Bruce Bochi, which is unbelievable.
The other three World Series that he won with the Giants,
his team never made the playoffs the following year.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Is that about?
Speaker 5 (30:02):
I don't know, It's it's weird, but I mean it's weird,
but you have to give you have to give Bruce
Boci credit as well, because you're talking about those runs
in twenty ten, twenty twelve, and fourteen where he won
three titles with the Giants, So, I mean, that's what
we're talking about. So but at the same time, when
I'm talking about the Rangers here, they they took Jack Lyder, right,
(30:24):
and Jack Lder is supposed to be a player who's
going to be an impact player at.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
The big league level. Well, just for people.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Who aren't aware of what Jack Lyder has has given us,
his era right now is sixteen thirty nine. That's the
worst in the live ball era after the first three
starts of any player's career, any player, and when you
draft somebody at the top of the draft, you need
not only an impact, you need something serviceable, something that
can help the organization push forward and defend a title.
(30:54):
Because we're talking about a great Rangers team that's not
going to help you. So yeah, I'm sure you're leaning
towards the Rangers being the most disappointing.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
I get that.
Speaker 5 (31:04):
But I'm sure they look at it like we've got time.
It's early in the season. We're gonna punch back, but
right now we haven't seen any sign of life.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
His name is Gary Sheffield Junior, one of the best
in the business. Check him out on mlbbro dot com
and on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Yankees Unloaded Gary. Always a pleasure, Thanks my man, Rob,
appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Now bring in the closer. Here's why MLB is better
than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Reason number nine hundred and fifty five where our Major
League Baseball is better than the NBA and better than
the NFL.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Has to do with the players Association and them.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
Taking care of their own I mean, story out of
New York that Major League Baseball and the Major League
Baseball Players Association announced together that they're going to expand
the existing financial assistance program for living Negro League players.
(32:09):
Players who played in fewer than four seasons in the
Negro League will receive an annual financial benefit based on
their time in the Negro League. I mean, this is
a great thing that they playing the time, they didn't
get you probably the money that they should have made
during that time because they weren't allowed to play in
the major leagues and it was a different pay scale
(32:31):
in the Negro leagues. And it's about looking out for
the people who were the foundation of the game.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
And we see this with baseball all the time.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
You see the older players always at the ballpark, always around,
always being welcomed, it's a family setting. I'm not so
sure you feel the same way when it comes to
the NBA or even the NFL taking care of its own.
So this is great for the Negro League players, but
it's really great from baseball standpoint and from the players
Association to make this happen. In the words of New
(33:09):
York TV legend the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for
your time this time until next time, Rob Parker out.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
D can't Gavin. This could be an inside of Parker.
See you next week, same bat time, same Matt station.
From the Berkshars to the sound from wherever you live
in MLB America. This is inside the Parker. You give
us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop
on Major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame
voter number seventy, Rob Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Oh my goodness, gracious, what a great show we have
for you today.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
We're gonna talk with red centerfielder Will Benson.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
He drops by also from mlbbro.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Dot Com and Yankees Unloaded. It's Gary Sheffield Junior plus
foul affair.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Let's go.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Better to lead off, it's getting robbed to keep them on.
Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major
League Baseball. Number one, Man oh man, I.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Mean, you know what, the last few years, the Phillies
have been good. Two years ago they went to the
World Series. Last year we thought they were gonna go
again until they got knocked off by Arizona.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
But this team is off to a great.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Start because the two previous years they didn't play well
out the gate. Remember Joe Girardi got fired two years ago.
Rob Thompson took over and they wound up going all
the way to the World Series. But this year, wake
the kids, call the neighbors. They are off to the
best start in Major League Baseball since the Seattle Mariners
(01:38):
in two thousand and one started thirty eight and twelve
and went on the tie an MLB record with one
hundred and sixteen wins. There's only one caveat of one
problem with that start that the Mariners have. They failed
to win the World Series. In fact, I remember that
year very vividly. They got knocked out by the Yankees
(02:02):
and did not make the World Series despite winning one
hundred and sixteen games. They had a juggernaut, a great team.
But this is a great start for the Phillies. They
were off to a tremendous start, the best start fifty
games start in Phillies franchise history. So they're they're touching
a lot of bells, ringing at blown, a lot of whistles.
(02:24):
Bryce Harper, we talk about him all the time. It's
more than just Bryce Harper, but he's the star. He
really has turned it up and become that guy in Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Uh, They're pitching is great.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
They've just done so many things and here at the
Phillies thirty six and fourteen through fifty games. Only the
nineteen ninety eight Yankees thirty seven and seven and thirteen
had a better record and the Mariners thirty eight and twelve.
The Yankees won the World Series that year, but the
(03:01):
Mariners did not, so this will be interesting as we
go forward. But the Phillies, not the Dodgers, are the
best team in the National League, and it's.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Not even close.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Number two.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I don't think anybody's.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Surprised by this, But Aaron Judge is all the way
back and is the monster that he has been in
Major League baseball. Obviously, two years ago he won the
American League MVP, set the all time record for home
runs in the American League, and he was off to
a terrible start before April twenty second, he was batting
(03:35):
one eighty three and twenty two games with three home
runs and eleven RBIs. And now here we are coming
into Thursday, he's raised that eighty three batting average to
two sixty eight. He's also had eleven home runs and
twenty three RBIs since April twenty second, and now has
(03:58):
fourteen home runs on the season, thirty four RBIs, and
the Yankees have winning like crazy. They got great pitching
e Lra under two going into Thursday, and John Carlos
stands hitting, Juan Soto's hitting, you know they Judge is hitting.
They're scoring like it feels like almost six runs a night,
(04:18):
five and a half six runs a night. And they
have the best record in the American League. So nobody's
surprised that when Aaron Judge is healthy, he's one of
the best players in the game. And last year wasn't
healthy and his numbers struggled, and the Yankees didn't make
the postseason, and he got off to a slow start.
(04:40):
Remember he was sidelining in spring training a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
And now you.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Gotta believe he's fully healthy, fully engaged, and is going
to be a monster for the rest of the twenty
twenty four season.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Number three.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
The Kansas City Royals have been around for a while.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
They've had street Every seems like every ten or twelve years,
they put together a team and they come out of nowhere.
We remember in twenty fifteen they won the World Series.
They beat the Mets. It wasn't forty years ago, it
was less than ten years ago. And it feels like
that that they were good. You know that they'll be good,
and they'll put together a team, and they're off to
(05:20):
their best start through fifty games in their franchise history.
And the Royals just had another perfect home stand. That's
two times this season that they've had perfect home stands.
And we know this too. The pitching has been tremendous.
(05:40):
That's a big part of why they're good. We know
Bobby wit Junior is a tremendous player. The Royals paid
them big time because he's going to be a franchise
player for a long time, you know, in Kansas City.
But their pitching is eighth coming into Thursday, they're eighth
in Baseball in pitch. That's why they are where they
(06:03):
are and why they're off to this great start in
that division. You know, people the Guardians are in first place,
but there it's Kansas City right on their heels.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So we'll have to see how long this lasts.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
But right now, it's hard to discount where the Royals
are and how long they'll stay there because with Bobby
wit Junior and pitching, how in the world is this
team not going to be in the mix in the
Al Central.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Here comes the big interview listen and learn.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
It's so good.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Let's welcome in Will Benson, centerfielder for the Cincinnati Reds.
Will thanks for joining us.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
Of course, it's an honor to be here.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Appreciated, my man.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Let's talk about the Cincinnati Reds and last year, guys
were closer making the playoffs, didn't quite get there, but
coming back you had to feel good about the team
and the chances this year.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
Yeah, absolutely, just really wanted to build off of what
we did last year. And obviously you know where we
are right now. We're not necessarily where we would like
to be, but I think in terms of the team,
you know, identity and mo it's still there. So I
still I'm very hopeful for what we can accomplish this year.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Got a lot of young guys, exciting team.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
It feels good though, right, like you're going moving forward,
not stale.
Speaker 6 (07:33):
Absolutely, it's a true blessing to be with the the
talent and the obviously the group of guys that we
have because we're all in a similar age, similar poar
in our career, so we're able to really grow and
learn together. So regardless, yeah, I think whatever we're doing,
it's always in the step forward because we are we're
(07:53):
moving as a unit, and that's something that's that's very powerful,
and that's something that's going to last, you know, hopefully
a while, you know, if they keep us like this.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Yeah, talk about I know you came from the Cleveland organization,
but coming to Cincinnati, the history of Cincinnati, the first
professional sports team in American history, Cincinnati and their love
for baseball and that city. What was it like playing
in Cincinnati.
Speaker 6 (08:17):
It's it's a true it's a true blessing. I mean, yeah,
coming from Cleveland, you know, they do a good job
over there, But when I when I came to Cincinnati,
I was just kind of amazed and wild at all
the rich, you know history that came along with which
is putting on the jersey the opening day was just
(08:38):
like wow, they had a Reds like Hall of Fame
like Galler or whatever. Wow, Like you know, it's just
like little things that the Reds do that it just
makes me feel, you know, very honored and blessed to
be a Red.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
We're talking with Will Benson, centerfielder for the Cincinnati Reds,
joining us here on inside the Parker. Let's talk about you.
This past weekend. You played in LA against the Dodgers,
your first home run or walk off against the Dodgers.
Just talk about that moment.
Speaker 6 (09:13):
It was crazy, it was surreal. You know, it is
a moment in time. Obviously I'll never forget, but I remember,
you know a lot of it was me just you know,
ready to do something cool, you know, in the ninth
inning and you know, just telling myself, you know, I'm
(09:34):
gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. And you know,
when I actually did it, it was like wow. And
then obviously you had to you had you had a
blackout moment.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
And all the body when you run, we're running around
the bases, what were you thinking?
Speaker 5 (09:46):
Like?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Really were you like?
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Did I just do this? Like this is what you
used to dream of?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Am I?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Right?
Speaker 6 (09:50):
Yeah? I definitely was like an absolute shock that actually
did it. And running around the bases honestly fast, It's
just like everything was moving fast. I didn't even realize
like the lights that were going on. Honestly, it was
just an overwhelming joy and excitement to get to home
(10:12):
plate so I can be with my teammates and celebrate.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
As you move forward, a young player in this game,
twenty five years old, talk about the hitting aspect, what
do you need to do to improve on the hitting
part and play in the field. Center field is a
big position.
Speaker 6 (10:26):
Yeah, definitely on the hitting part is consistency and just
really nailing in the things that make me good and
understanding what makes me good and just falling on that,
you know, and constantly you know, repping that out. And
I think as I continue to do those things, I'll
(10:48):
be building blocks or something that'd be beautiful when i'm
you know, let's say two years from now, you know,
twenty seven years old, it'd be like, man, I really
have built a foundation and a process that I can
lean on. So that is what I you know, feel
in my heart will lead to consistency. And then from
the you know, defensive side and being a center field
(11:09):
I mean, quite honestly, you know defense playing center field.
I mean I don't want to you know, jinx myself here,
but out of all, out of all the three, you know,
center field is one of the easier, you know, outfit
positions because you can see everything so clearly. So I
think with that, it's just being a good leader, communicating
with my corners and as well as just getting good
(11:31):
reads on balls and good Jones because I have a
lot of room to run based off of that read.
So just continuing to uh hone in on the details
in center fields and be husman.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Last thing, uh young in your career. But you've been
around to some ballparks. I don't know if you made
them to all yet? No, not yet, right, Which one's favorite?
Just playing other than Cincinnati obviously, I'm just saying as
a as an opponent coming into town.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Yeah, my my number I can do my top three
for sure. My number one is Toronto. That was the
first road series that I went on, a road trip
that I went on in the big leagues. And obviously
Toronto is beautiful. It's insane.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
It's a great international city.
Speaker 6 (12:13):
Oh my god, it's incredible. And they they you know,
pulled the dome, the the top back and you had
the needle right there. It was like where you know,
it was you know, a kid's dream to do that.
Then number two can be Boston. Boston was surreal because
you know, sadly, my my father in law, he had
(12:33):
passed away right before I went on that trip, and
you know, I spoke with him and that was a
series in my big league career where I felt like,
you know, I can do this and I can play
this game at a high level. And Boston was that
place for me. And then obviously it's Boston, like it's
absolutely beautiful. And then third, this was a tough one,
(12:53):
but I really like Chicago. The Cubs, just how they
do it the whole the day games, the crowd, the.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
It's intimate, it's old, but it's baseball.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I'm all right, I love it too.
Speaker 6 (13:07):
It's it's again. It's if you feel like you're in
a moment of time of history that you know will
forever be remembered, you know. And then that's how it
felt like every game I played there, and it was
you know, you get that feeling when like you're truly
honored and you're truly blessed to run out there. And
(13:27):
I felt that every time. And that was at Rikley.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
So last thing for Will Benson favorite player growing up
and who did you follow and did you copy the
batting stance and all that stuff we all do as
guys who loved the game of baseball.
Speaker 6 (13:41):
Yeah, there's there's three players. Number one was Michel Cabrera.
I did try to copy his swing, but you know
that is I've.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Worked in Detroit for twenty years. I covered his career
there so tremendous.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
He's incredible and I was I was starstruck when I
handed him his retirement get from the but it was you.
I mean, his career speaks alone. He was a huge
inspiration for me, and he made the game look really easy.
Jason Hayward was the second guy, really honestly the main guy,
because he came from a similar area as myself. We
(14:18):
played on the same like travel organization, so I kind
of really just follow his footsteps, and he was a
comparable guy for me in the draft, so I really
just tried to emulate him so that I could be
in the same position as him. And then lastly, Barry
Bonds is. Yeah, he's the greatest player to ever step on.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
The greatest one I ever saw play.
Speaker 6 (14:38):
It's really incredible, and he's he's an inspiration to me
because I strived for excellence and he was excellent. And
so if I can just kind of touch some of
the things that he did or even learned some of
the things that he did, you know, I'll be happy
with my career. So and I don't have to have
the two hundred and thirty two walks in the season
(14:59):
or you know the fourteen None of that, right, but
just close, if I could just get closer that Uh.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
There you go, all right, Will Benson, thanks for joining
us man. We appreciate you so much.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
Of course, thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
It was a big week in the big leagues. Who's
who's a five? Don't believe? Is it foul or is
it fair? And now from mlbdbro dot com here's jrgamball.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Is it foul or fair to say that Ron Washington
has exceeded expectations so far for the La Angels South?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
That is a foul ball.
Speaker 7 (15:47):
I don't think Ron Washington has exceeded expectations.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
The Angels are twenty and thirty.
Speaker 7 (15:52):
They are competitive, They don't have the worst record in
the American League or even their own division, the AL West,
and they still aren't very good. Washington has an entire
culture to revamp, and it won't happen overnight. He also
has to do it without Mike Trout for the foreseeable future.
For the team to not have packed it in and
for younger players such as Joe Adell to be blossoming
(16:14):
under this system shows that Washington is doing exactly what
he planned for year one of this rebuild, and that's
when he thought he would have trout. So solid job
by Ron. Let's just see how the guys continue to respond.
There's going to be a lot of tough days where
he's going to have to call these guys out on
the carpet and give them a little veteran ribbon. They
(16:35):
just want a huge two to one game against the
Vision rival Houston on Wednesday night. So things are moving
in a positive direction.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
We shall see. It's time for the pocket Protector Centro.
The analytic numbers you need to know, Well, maybe.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Anthony Masterson is his name, BS analytics is his game.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
What do you got for me, Anthony?
Speaker 8 (17:00):
The best parts of baseball as anybody can help contribute
to the legacy of the sport itself. Rob Friedman, otherwise
known as the Pitching Ninja on social media, was an
attorney with an affinity for baseball, especially the guys on
the mound. He loves seeing the best hurlers in the
world make the best hitters in the world look foolish.
Thus was born the Sword. Initially, it was a turn
from the movie The Benchwarmers Don't Chop at It. It's
(17:21):
not a sword, but it's basically a way to say
the pitcher made the batter look so foolish his swing
might go viral. In January, MLB and Statcast teamed up
with the Pitching Ninja to create an official stat for
the sword. With the brand new bat speed bat tracking
ability debuted recently, we can now officially define a sword
as a swinging strike where the swing is incomplete and
(17:42):
the bat speed is in the lowest tenth percentile. For pitchers,
the leaderboard is a badge of pride, and through Monday's games,
two pitchers top the leaderboard in swords this season, the
Orioles Corbin Burns and the Angels Patrick Sandoval, both with eleven.
The guys with double digits are some impressive names as well,
like Logan Gilbert, Jared Jones, Aaron Nola, and Chris Saale.
(18:03):
On the batter side, the leaderboard is not a list
you want to top. The Angel Zach Netto leads all
hitters with fifteen swords this season, followed by All Stars
Kyle Schwarber, who Lui Rodriguez, and Fernando Tatis Junior. So hey,
even the best can have it bat at bat or two.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Turn money into more money. Now it's time for betting
on the basis with Dave Gascott. Love that money, Love
that money.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Hey, Rob.
Speaker 9 (18:28):
Last weekend of baseball here in the month of May,
and then we gear towards June and the dog days
of summer. Dodgers are in Cincinnati against the Reds. James
Packson has an undefeated record so far five and zero
two point eight four el against Graham Ashcraft. That's the
opposing side in this one. I like Cincinnati just because
of the dog Dodgers are always going to be heavy favorites,
(18:48):
especially against teams that are under five hundred. I will
take Cincinnati, though, to pull off the upset here against
the Dodgers to win Friday evening. A little bit different
of a sea as we go back to the West
Coast Padres and Yankees. It gives us a rehash of
the nineteen ninety eight World Series for San Diego.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Got swept you.
Speaker 9 (19:05):
Darbus is on the BUF for San Diego and this
one four to one record eight two point zero eight.
It is sparkling. I will take the Friars at home
against the Bronx Bombers, and then a little bit different
the seed in Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins. Miami a
shade of themselves compared to last season. Zach Gallon on
the BOMP So far this season, he hasn't been bad,
(19:27):
hasn't been as good as last season, but nevertheless still sharp.
Five and three, three point zero two era. I got
the snakes at home to take care of the Marlins.
Speaker 7 (19:38):
It's the Gambler here. Vice president of operations for mlbbro
dot Com an executive producer of the MLB Bro Show
podcast The Mixtape.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Every Friday. You heard that right.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
Every Friday, we bring you the best from the world
of black and brown baseball. We covered the seven point
two percent of melanated me leaguers from soup to nuts,
but with our own cultural flair and unique voice, will
take you on a ride reflecting on the accomplishments, clutch moments,
and contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe
(20:15):
into baseball.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
From Mookie Wilson to Mookie Betts.
Speaker 7 (20:19):
Doctor k to doctor Sticks, from bro Bombs to stolen
bases to black aces. We're live at the ballparks and
also bringing you segments like Classic Hits with David Grubb,
The Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the walk off, and
Going Deep just the name a few of the segments
that truly capture.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
The voice of Black baseball. If things get.
Speaker 7 (20:42):
Out of hand is the Boss, Rob Parker, He's kicking
up dust. We will gladly pay you on Tuesday from
an MLB bro doubleheader today. Remember the heart of the
game lies in the diversity of the game and the
spirit of black baseball that dates back to the Negro leagues.
The Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, making sure that
(21:04):
you stay on top of the game and in touch
with the soul of MLB. Fuck up for a wild
baseball journey, showing respect to the Ogs and highlighting the
new breed of melanated mal morado. First thing through MLB's pipeline,
all pitching with the sound of Black Baseball.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
We got the best starting five in the business.
Speaker 7 (21:25):
Listen to the MLB Bro Show podcast the Mixtape on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Wherever you get your podcasts. When Rob was a newspaper columnist,
he lived by this model. If I'm writing, I'm ripping,
Let's bring in a writer or broadcaster, old or new.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Now Let's welcome into the podcast. Gary Sheffield Junior. He
is a content creator for mlbbro dot com. Also, he
has Yankees unloaded on YouTube. Hey Gary, welcome to Inside
the Parker.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
How you doing, my man, Rob, I'm doing good.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Well.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
First of all, I'm a little distracted. I'm looking at
my phone and it's buzzing off the hook. I'm wondering
what's going on our MLB bro John Carlos stand to
hit a bomb, so one of that.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Ready, that's right, My goodness, gracious, there you go. He's
really turned it around real quickly. Let's just go right there.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Brian Cashman was critical of him in the off season,
kind of did something general managers don't do. We call
out a player, basically saying he will get hurt at
some point. And John Carlos had a really good season
for the Yankees, and he's been healthy.
Speaker 5 (22:38):
Yeah, I mean, and you don't really like watching guys
get called out, but sometimes players need that, right Like
sometimes you need a shot in the arm. Someone needs
to write you off and that gets you off your feet.
And so that's what I actually like about what the
Yankees are doing. For the first time ever, they're not
comfortable with what they output and just for a profit.
And I think John Carlow responds better to that than
(23:00):
what people are giving him credit for.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
Let's go here, Let's stick with the Yankees here and
Juan Soto, I mean, he's been a godsend for the Yankees.
He's embraced playing in the Bronx with the fans. Everybody
can't play in New York ere, you know that, but
he's been able to adapt. Should the Yankees, like you know,
try to make a deal during the season or just
(23:24):
wait till after the season like they did with Judge,
they let it play out and then they you know,
other guys are going to jump in and bid, but
they ultimately won because they offered enough money and Judge
wanted to wear the pinstripes.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
Well, there's this narrative going around that the Yankees have
an opportunity to sign him before the offseason, and if
that happens, it's just because Juan Soto wants it to happen,
has nothing to do with what the Yankees want. Because
people need to remember when that four hundred and forty
million dollar offer was floated around two years ago for
Juan Soto and Washington. Everyone says, oh, he just turned
(23:58):
down four to forty, so where's the real number gonna be?
But no one really tells you is for fifteen years.
You're not getting Won Soto for under thirty a year.
Just not gonna happen. So if the Yankees really want
to make a deal with Wan Soto, which they can do,
you're gonna have to float in the five hundred to
six hundred million dollar range. And if you're not doing that,
you might as well not even walk up to the table.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
So you think he'll get six hundred.
Speaker 5 (24:21):
Million absolutely whatever, mid thirties for twelve or thirteen years,
because you have to remember, Rob, he's twenty five.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
No, I'm only a young guy. He's been around for
a while.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
He's won a World Series, so people he's appears older.
But wow, six hundred million, I just I could see
maybe five. I'm not so sure six.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
You know what, Rob, people your age tend to complain
that they want to complain that guys are getting paid
for what they did in the past. Well, Wan Soto
is right in the middle of his prime. He's twenty
five years old. He's ready for the next decade to
be the best he's ever been. That's what you pay for.
So if I'm pay for anybody, it's a show. Heyo Tani,
it's Ajan Soto. It doesn't happen every so often where
(25:07):
you see a player like this who's gonna give you
his best years.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Our guest is Gary Sheffield Junior from mlbbro dot com
and Yankees Unloaded on YouTube, so you could take a
look at that.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Check that out as well.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Let's go to the Cincinnati where has this star shortstop
Ellie de la Cruz is on pace to steal ninety
nine one hundred bases And I'm crying foul. I'm sorry, Gary,
I mean, the bases are the size of pizza.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Boxes, and I just I think that I like.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
That baseball once that get the stolen base back in
the game and all that. And I know they did
part of it because of safety, but it does seem
if Ricky Henderson and Vince Coleman and Lou Brock were
playing with the bases this big and you can't throw
over more than twice, I think they'd have two hundred
stolen bases.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
Yeah, no, I see talking about it feels like in
basketball they widen the rim. It just doesn't seem right.
And for a lot of people, when you start projecting, Okay,
where's Ellie going with this stolen based number, Like what
number are we going to be looking at? A lot
of people are looking at triple digits on a hundred stolen bases,
And the first name you think of is Ricky Henderson,
the greatest stolen based king merchant in the history of
(26:20):
the world. Like, it'll never be topped. But one thing's
for certain that year in nineteen eighty with Oakland, it's
not the same thing as Ellie stealing one hundred bases. Today,
it's still impressive. I'm going to watch it. He's must
see TV. But the comparison is just apple st oranges.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Yeah, I'm with you. I just can't look at it
the same. That base is pretty darn big. Let's go
to the Houston Astros got off to an awful start,
still playing under five hundred at home and the road
they're under five hundred. But they coming into Thursday, they
at one seven of their last ten.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Are they back or is this a mirage?
Speaker 5 (26:58):
Well, I mean at least some of their DNA's back,
because you saw they lost their first two games in
New York and everyone said, well, when are they gonna
punch back? And I told people, I'm fading the sweep
and Houston's gonna find their identity at some point. They
haven't gotten anybody out this year. Starting pitching has been atrocious,
but that lineup, the Alex Bregman's where have they been? Well,
(27:19):
they're starting to heat up now and you start to
see them getting back into the win column. So I'm
not gonna give up on Houston. I think they have
too much of a winning pedigree. And I know a
lot of people want to say that they won because
of the cheating scan and all that They've won in
much more than just that season where they were caught cheating,
So I tend to give them a lot more credit.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
I'm not giving up.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
How about the Yankees have the best pitching EORA and
Major League Baseball under three coming into Thursday, and that's
with Al Garrett Cole their ace on the America League
Cy Young Award winner a year ago. Is that scary?
Can the Yankee pitching get better?
Speaker 5 (27:56):
Of course? Well, when you have the best pitcher in
baseball at least right now, won the Cy Young last year,
and this is somebody who didn't necessarily have an outlier season.
Garrett cole Is, he's habitually amazing. And when you add
him to what the pitching coach and Matt Blake has
done in New York, they're gonna be scary. And now,
for the first time ever, the Yankees aren't just spinning
(28:19):
the ball well, they're not just pitching well, they're hitting.
And that's things to Juan Soto, who we obviously talked
about earlier in the show. So the Yankees right now
just have all the right mix. Their pitching is just nasty.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
No doubt. Under three Eerra here we are almost June.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
I mean, that's incredible for this game of baseball, you know,
with all the hitting and what's going on. Last thing, Gary,
the biggest disappointment so far this season, what team would
you say that is?
Speaker 8 (28:47):
For you?
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Oh, that's the Twins.
Speaker 5 (28:51):
It has to be the Minnesota Twins because you really
have to think about what's going on outside in the division.
So if you really think about this, they're looking at
a team in the Kansas City Royals where they're not
spending any money and they're good once every decade, and
it just so happens everyone was looking at the Twins, saying,
(29:11):
at some point or another, you guys need to take
a step forward. They didn't do that, and now it
seems like they're on the outside looking in, and they're
talking about teams in the division like Detroit who didn't
hit on their number one overall pick with Spencer Torkosen
hasn't proven he's a franchise cornerstone player at all. The
Minnesota Twins have to be a lot better than what
they've been right now. So they're a major disappointment.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
How about the Rangers.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
I mean, here's the only thing is they're under five hundred.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
They're struggling. You know, are they going? Is that?
Speaker 4 (29:46):
Is that a one year deal? They won the World Series?
They're incredible year ago. And Bruce Bochi, which is unbelievable.
The other three World Series that he won with the Giants,
his team never made the playoffs the following year.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Is that about?
Speaker 5 (30:02):
I don't know, It's it's weird, but I mean it's weird,
but you have to give you have to give Bruce
Boci credit as well, because you're talking about those runs
in twenty ten, twenty twelve, and fourteen where he won
three titles with the Giants, So, I mean, that's what
we're talking about. So but at the same time, when
I'm talking about the Rangers here, they they took Jack Lyder, right,
(30:24):
and Jack Lder is supposed to be a player who's
going to be an impact player at.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
The big league level. Well, just for people.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Who aren't aware of what Jack Lyder has has given us,
his era right now is sixteen thirty nine. That's the
worst in the live ball era after the first three
starts of any player's career, any player, and when you
draft somebody at the top of the draft, you need
not only an impact, you need something serviceable, something that
can help the organization push forward and defend a title.
(30:54):
Because we're talking about a great Rangers team that's not
going to help you. So yeah, I'm sure you're leaning
towards the Rangers being the most disappointing.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
I get that.
Speaker 5 (31:04):
But I'm sure they look at it like we've got time.
It's early in the season. We're gonna punch back, but
right now we haven't seen any sign of life.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
His name is Gary Sheffield Junior, one of the best
in the business. Check him out on mlbbro dot com
and on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Yankees Unloaded Gary. Always a pleasure, Thanks my man, Rob,
appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Now bring in the closer. Here's why MLB is better
than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Reason number nine hundred and fifty five where our Major
League Baseball is better than the NBA and better than
the NFL.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Has to do with the players Association and them.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
Taking care of their own I mean, story out of
New York that Major League Baseball and the Major League
Baseball Players Association announced together that they're going to expand
the existing financial assistance program for living Negro League players.
(32:09):
Players who played in fewer than four seasons in the
Negro League will receive an annual financial benefit based on
their time in the Negro League. I mean, this is
a great thing that they playing the time, they didn't
get you probably the money that they should have made
during that time because they weren't allowed to play in
the major leagues and it was a different pay scale
(32:31):
in the Negro leagues. And it's about looking out for
the people who were the foundation of the game.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
And we see this with baseball all the time.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
You see the older players always at the ballpark, always around,
always being welcomed, it's a family setting. I'm not so
sure you feel the same way when it comes to
the NBA or even the NFL taking care of its own.
So this is great for the Negro League players, but
it's really great from baseball standpoint and from the players
Association to make this happen. In the words of New
(33:09):
York TV legend the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for
your time this time until next time, Rob Parker out.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
D can't Gavin. This could be an inside of Parker.
See you next week, same bat time, same Matt station.
Host
Rob Parker
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