Ep. 19 Jim Stark LIVE from Florida with a Detroit Tigers Spring Training update & season predictions

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Baseball this week a Spotlight production, and here's
your host, Jim Stark.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well, greetings from sunny Lakeland, Florida. As I'm pleased to
be here tonight, And of course I would not be
anywhere without my co host and the gentlemen that is
keeping things going back there at our Spotlight Studios, and
that's Boston Rob.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hey, Rob, how are you man? Good to talk with
you and looking forward to talking a little baseball.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well, we were hoping to get the show back on
the rails to this year. We had a year off
last year, but we enjoyed doing it the year before that,
and I thought we had a lot of fun and
some interesting guests, and that's hoping for this year. But yeah,
we'd kick it off with a nice trip to Florida.
At least one of us is down here in Florida.
But I spent the last two days at spring training,
so I've got some good feedback from what's going on

(01:00):
here in the Lakesland area. And obviously only what a
week and a halfway from opening day.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, I mean it's an exciting time. I know a
lot of Tigers fans are excited, especially the way last
season ended. And so my first question to you as
we kick off this kind of look into the season,
we'll give some predictions I'm sure here later in the show.
Looking forward to seeing what you say about that. But
first off, I mean you've seen a couple of games now, right,

(01:29):
what's got you most excited about this team? Will start
off with the positive?

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, the picture without a doubt, there's no question about that.
You know, You've got we have Terri Scooper coming off
of one of the great Tigers seasons in history. You know,
especially for a left hander. You had a lot of
good right hand hit his pitches over the year, but
they had a great season out Terri Schooble. Yet last year,
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:52):
If we'll ever see something like that again, right.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yeah, he won the Triple Crown for pitchers with strikeouts
and ERA And what's the third category? Strikeout e RA?
And what am I missing?

Speaker 3 (02:06):
Strikeouts?

Speaker 2 (02:07):
E RA?

Speaker 3 (02:08):
And wins?

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Wins of course?

Speaker 3 (02:11):
Uh?

Speaker 2 (02:11):
And and and he hasn't missed a beat this year. Uh. Rob,
He's come out pitching just as healthy as he was
then the year last year. He's been dominant at times
this spring. Uh, there's no reasonably he will not. You know,
it's tough to sale of as good as year last year,
and that last year was phenomenal. I mean, right, But

(02:32):
but here's the thing, though, Rob, He's got more help
this year. If you remember when when they started the
push last year in early August, he didn't have Jack Flaherty,
and this year they do because they had traded him
in the trading deadline last year. So he has flirty
plus he's got a healthy uh Reese Olsen and more importantly,

(02:54):
a seemingly a pitcher who's found his way again. And
that's case he Mies and and a lot of what
I've understood to put credit for that is the fact
that Chris Petter has been able to work with it
with Casey Mice to alter his lineup, alter his sewing motion,
and allow his I g think he's putting three or
four miles per hour as fastball. So right away, you

(03:15):
give me four good starters plus the rookie of the
year potential rookie of the year Jackson job. I go
into the season with those five thirds, I'm feeling pretty good.

Speaker 3 (03:25):
And Casey Mize what a story, right, I mean, that's
got to be the feel good story. Of camp spring
training so far for the Tigers, the way not only
that he's pitching, but how he's pitching. Because correct me
if I'm wrong, Jim, I haven't looked right at his
stats within the last day or two, but he hasn't
even given up a run.

Speaker 4 (03:45):
Correct, that's correct.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
He's gone five outings right there right now, or four
outs and four outings. I think he's gone twelve innings
and hasn't been up a run yet. So no, he's
he's been very very strong. I he pitches it again tomorrow.
But the big thing is he sees me throwing with
the more with more humidity, without without so much. Remember
when he was first draft that we talked about the

(04:08):
he had a very violent throwing motion. It seems to
be much smoother now.

Speaker 3 (04:11):
So let's surgery will change you. It will change that exactly.
And it usually takes like a year and a half
or so to your full favorite effort from.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
That that he was support quote unquote healthy last year,
but it takes an extra year and and now he's
had a full two years and in the space he
was still the overall number one pick of the draft.
You don't pick a guy like that because he can't
pitch right and so it's not totally surprising, uh that
he that he's doing better, but I think, I think
not far behind him is also Spectri Proklson because they

(04:45):
had already taken a spot. They as we talked about
much in the off season, they gave his first base
job the Colt Keith and and when they brought him
Flavor Torres and and right now, uh, the spring has
been good enough for torpose and he's for us in
the to find a new position because right today he
played right field, and right now it's his stats. Sorry,

(05:06):
he leads a team both at home runs and rbi
a nine and right now he's he's forcing Hints to
find a place for him.

Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yeah, when with the injuries, and we'll get into the
injuries and all that, I think that helps too, But
he's taking advantage of the situations. I don't know if
I want to see Spencer Torkosen on a regular basis
in right field right yeah, I think. I mean, I
think what Spencer Parklson needs to do is just hit, right.
I mean, the h is weird exactly you want to

(05:35):
put him, but we need to see him hit, hit
with power. Consistently. We've seen him do it sporadically, but
this is a big year for him, right a contract.
Oh yeah, so this is.

Speaker 2 (05:47):
If he hits still find a spot. The point is
he's hitting well enough that they're forcing himself to find
a spot form right now because first base is crowded.
You know, they've got guys there that they can't really
play anywhere else right now now. Whether Torcross works in
the reg dealer or not, at least they're trying. But
you're right here.

Speaker 3 (06:03):
Thrown out there. Goal played outfield in high school and
a little bit of Arizona State. As I looked at you,
you know, when I heard that they were doing that,
I did a little research, believe it or not, and yeah,
so but you don't want him out there?

Speaker 4 (06:16):
I mean, no, no to him.

Speaker 3 (06:17):
He's a great athlete, but you want him, you know,
either DH or first base, And right now DH looks
like the spot for him, I would imagine, because because
Cole Keith, as you mentioned, is doing quite well over
there at first base.

Speaker 2 (06:32):
Well, you know, I don't have any question about that.
But Kerry Carpenter, unfortunately is not as good a defensive
player even as Tolkosen So they really have him kind
of penciling the DH for the most part. So but
but Litsten, look, the fact that Torkosen is forcing them
to try to find the innings for him in the
field is good, right because they had already kind of

(06:54):
written them off saying he'd go to Toledo to start.
Right now, I think he's in running for one of
those twenty six spots to standing team going north. And
that's so between him and Lies to me, Rob, those
are the two most important moved forwards because you know,
we looked back at last year. It was a great year,
no question came out of nowhere. They run in that

(07:16):
historic run from August on. But the fact that Casey
Mines and Spencer Perkinson was so little regarded it was
disappointing because those are two number one overall the eptics.
And I don't care who drafted, and I know it
was the last regime, you still don't want to see
you're wasting those number one draftics. So in fact they're
both proved themselves a value this year. To me, that's

(07:37):
a great step forward.

Speaker 3 (07:38):
Yeah, and I agree, And we talked about the historic
run last year to end last year, and it was
they went what thirty four, I don't know what they
what thirty four and eleven or something like that, right,
But let's not forget not only did they have to
win like that, but the other teams in the division.
I'm talking about Kansas City and Minnesota they had to stumble,

(07:58):
and boy did they stumble.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
I don't know. They came back, they came back, but
the Tigers didn't didn't miss the chance. And I think
what I remember most about last year around is the
way guys came through in the clutch. Different guys seemed
like every.

Speaker 3 (08:14):
Day and they it was the youth, it.

Speaker 2 (08:17):
Was, it was Andy Bias was was was critical. Matt
Harper came back from the injury of Parker medals Boy,
the last two months of the season, Parker medals was
as good as center field that I would stay as.
It wasn't baseball if you combine his offense and the defense.
And unfortunately he's one of the negative you ask earlier,
but the positive stories. One of the negative stories this

(08:38):
year in training camp is the fact that Parker medals
Is has some mysterious nerve injury and he's probam won't
be on the ross starting the season.

Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, him and Matt Erling two big, two big hits
for sure. And again this is what and this leads
to the questions of you know, center field, and then
you look at third base. But when Parker medals is
in the lineup last year they were it was something
like forty nine and sixteen. I mean, I mean they
are a better team. Yeah, he makes an impact when

(09:11):
he's there healthy, both offensively. We look at the offensive numbers,
but let's not forget Jim defensively as well.

Speaker 2 (09:19):
Right well, I think I think he was even more
important defensively because he cut off so many runs and
it was such a force in center field. You know,
it was almost like hitters, where am I gonna hit it?
I came to the cenerate because He's gonna make a play.
So he was more than just a good player. He
was he other look at him. How to work around him?

(09:41):
Yeah there, So I think the fact he's not playing
right now is almost as big as his appointment as
it is. To the surprise, Casey Meis has been positively
So they gotta figure that out because center field right
now is really a question mark because right today they
had Wenchel Perez. I think years ago he was in.

Speaker 3 (10:00):
Yeah, but I think he's capable. I mean, you could
have worse out there. I think he's capable of keeping
you know, keeping it above water, so to speak. Now,
is he going to put up the numbers that that
a Parker Medals has done. Probably not, But I think
he's capable of putting there. I know Riley Green was mentioned,

(10:21):
but you don't want to, I mean, man Riley Green.
And I'd rather keep Riley Green in that field, not
that he can't do center field, but boy, that's a lot.
That's a lot of room in centerfield that Camerica Park, Jim,
as you are well aware.

Speaker 2 (10:35):
And and the problem with Riley Green playing center field
is that he's not reckless, but he plays all out
and he gets hurt a lot because of it, which
is one of the reasons why they wanted to move
in the left field. So yeah, I can't I can't
over overstate the problem in center field because yeah, went
the press was offensively had a good year last year,

(10:55):
but he's not anywhere near the center fielder that commendals.
And again, do you want to have a guy playing
center field at Kamerica Park, which is one of the
biggest outfields in ball baseball, when he's going to play
an outfield for a year or two, it creates problems
and concerns.

Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, there is a concern, but this isn't hopefully, I mean,
progressing wise, Parker Metals is progressing positively. I know, because
of it. It's a nerve, you know, it's kind of
touch and go. Don't really have a timetable for him,
but from what I heard that from what I've seen,
he's progressing in the right direction. So hopefully this isn't

(11:32):
a long term scenario where we won't see Parker medals.
It's at center field until then. I mean again, it's
you could put anybody out there on centerfield atk America
Park and it's going to be an issue, right, I mean,
it's just well that's just it's just the way Comerica
Park is good, bad, or indifferent. But I think Wenzel

(11:53):
can be would be able to, you know, again, hold
hold the fort until a healthy hopefully park for Metals
comes back sooner than later.

Speaker 2 (12:02):
Well, here's the other thing that helped them last year,
Rob and that's the defense, the outfield defense. And they
put Raley Green in the left and they had parking
Metals in the center. I don't care who they had
right that outfield was really good. But if you take
Raley Green to put him in center, now you have
to put justin, Harry Melroy and left. He is not

(12:22):
a good defender, so now you wreak yourself in all
three spots basically, So that's concerned. But again it's earlier
and as you said, they have some some in house
solutions at least sorts of Yeah, if Parking Metals, if
he wasn't getting better, it'd be different. But you're right,
he's showing slow improvement. But you know what, it's one
of those weird things that nerved and what do you

(12:43):
do about that? You know, where'd that come from? That's
I think what makes you easy.

Speaker 3 (12:46):
You don't play one on TV, So I right, you know,
it's It's just one of those things that happens. It's
unfortunate because again we've talked about the impact of Parker
Metal's being out there on the field for the defensive
side of things, not only off offensively. So but again
it's one of the things that they're going to hear
and I'd rather have them deal with it early on

(13:07):
in the season. I'd rather have this happen early on
in the season than you know, in the midst of
a playoff run in July, August and September.

Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah, no, no, no question, Hey Rod, Just people know
we're glading back with you. Was is the Baseball this
Week with Jim Starkin and Boston Rob, And we're joining
again this year is today. It's sort of our inaugural
one to get one out there and Rob. People can
get involved social media wise as they could do last time,
So I want to throw those bet information out there.

Speaker 3 (13:37):
Yeah, Baseball this Week is on Twitter or X or
whatever we're calling it these days. Of course, we have
our face Facebook page as well, and so we'll be
updating that as well, and we'll be putting this show
on our Facebook page and on all your podcast platforms,
whether it's iTunes or Spotify, wherever listen to your podcast,

(13:57):
we will be available. So again, Baseball this Week on
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you'll get your baseball fixed any way possible here thanks
to Jim Stark and Baseball this Week.

Speaker 2 (14:12):
Hey, Rob, let's take it. Take a first plate. Let's
do a little bit more last year, uh and kind
of you know, are there any of the thoughts you
had about last year that you wanted to bring about.
I will say this, uh, pitching pitching wise of the winds,
e r A strikeouts, a whip uh and and war

(14:33):
terre scuba let in every one of those categories, which
is probably not a surprise. But you'd like to see
a little bit more balanced if you could, right, you'd
like to see another story picture.

Speaker 3 (14:41):
I mean they were throwing pictures out there at any
at a time, right.

Speaker 4 (14:46):
Yeah, a lot.

Speaker 3 (14:48):
And that goes back to the importance of having Jack
Flattery back, right, and and and a healthy rhys Olsen,
who I think is not being talked about enough. Here's
a young guy with another year of experience. We've seen
he can have some real nasty stuff in a good way,
but we want to see some consistency right now, agree

(15:10):
with me and not double check with you. He looks
like he will be in that third position, right, the
third spot, yep. But yeah, it looks good and he
could be a he could be the difference maker. Really
everybody's talking about job of course, but again, he could
be a real difference maker on how far this pitching
staff can really go on, how far the Tigers go

(15:32):
in that third position, what do you think, Well.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, because both he and if you think about a
Casey Mines as much so similar in job. For that matter,
we don't know what they're upside, is right. They all
have sudden to prove, but we've seen enough to know
they've got great stuff. The other thing I wanted to
share with this from last season in the hitting department,
guess what, Riley Green led in seven different categories. The

(15:55):
only category he did not lead in was his stolen
basis and that was Zach McKinstry. But so Riley Green
either ties for leader, led in betting average, home runs, RBIs, ops, hits,
and war So he's about a valuable hitter.

Speaker 3 (16:09):
Yeah, he's a cornerstone. He's I mean, you can argue
Derek schoobl is the face of the franchise, but I
would argue Riley Green is also. I mean you could
argue Riley Green being the face of the franchise, right.
The only All Star last year, I mean really defensively
and offensively, his offense picked up. His offense has gotten
better each year. So I don't know if you want

(16:32):
to call it a breakout year for Riley Green or not,
I don't know, but but I'm expecting big things from
who I consider the face of the franchise moving forward
here for the next five to ten years.

Speaker 4 (16:45):
Yeah, and his.

Speaker 3 (16:47):
Progression, I mean that's been right on schedule. He talked
about the issues with Spencer Torklsen and some other young players,
but his progression from his rookie year to now, I mean,
you can't I would. I would say it's been, like
I said, right on schedule.

Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah, I agree, and and and the league is really
starting to respect him too. Real quick before we take
a break. The other thing from last year, I wanted
to bring up Robin and just remind everybody is that
the bullpen. The bullpen was phenomenal last year and they
had you know, guys like Bo Bisky, else Fado, Sean
Gunther and Brendon Hannify who came out of nowhere to

(17:27):
help out. Tyler Houlton, Grant Brant Herder had some some beginnings,
ty Madden had some had some important games.

Speaker 3 (17:37):
Your bullpen was you're starting pitching. It was bullpen work.

Speaker 4 (17:44):
It was well one.

Speaker 2 (17:45):
One more name, two names I want to mention be
see him lot at the end of the game this year,
of course is Will Vasque and Jason Foley, but don't
forget also Kater Martero, who came on to start last
year and and through some big games, he's still in
the mix.

Speaker 3 (17:59):
He's got our I mean, no, I agree, he's got
to prove to me that he's going to be I'd
rather see him in the in the bullpen and stay
in the bullpen as opposed to a starting pitcher. He'll
be more effective in the bullpen, for sure.

Speaker 2 (18:15):
There's no question that this team would not have been
in the playoffs last year, even with the great season
that their school had, unless that bullpen disulf the way
they did.

Speaker 3 (18:28):
No one saw that. I don't even know. No one
saw that coming. And I don't even know. I don't
even know if A. J. Hinchen Is and and coach
Fetter saw that coming.

Speaker 2 (18:37):
No, I think I think it was a surprise, but
a good surprise. But the way they managed those arms,
when those arms kept them in ball games, it was
a thing to behold. Well. So let's take our first
break of the night, Rob. I was very pleasing back
with you in our baseball Lazrica. I too, Stark and
and my partner Bob Rob. Mister I would call him

(18:58):
a Boston Rob. But mister base there, it's not like
on the rail.

Speaker 3 (19:03):
We know who that is. And as sure as hell
ain't me.

Speaker 2 (19:06):
Well listen, Robert, thank you. Break, we'll come back. We'll
talk more about the spring training and depth. I get
some ideas I want to share with you, and then
we'll wrap up the show. We're talking about the seasons.
It's gonna be starting just a few weeks.

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Speaker 2 (21:11):
Welcome back to baseball this week on Jim Stark along
with Boston. Rob back at our our Spotlight Media Studios
and I'm down here Florida and liked them for spring
training for a couple of days and then we decided
we want to do a little baseball show and get
things back up.

Speaker 3 (21:27):
A tough assignment for you, well, you.

Speaker 2 (21:30):
Know, Rob, it's a dirty job, but someone.

Speaker 4 (21:33):
Had to do it right, that's it.

Speaker 3 (21:34):
That's it.

Speaker 2 (21:36):
But it's great. It's great to be here. And uh,
you know, one of the great things that I told
you off the air today when you and I were
talking earlier, is that, uh boy, the uh, the feeling
you get here in Lakeland at March's Stadium and the
surrounding area is unlike other other areas because it's the
only baseball complex in all Florida now that's not near

(21:59):
the ocean or the because there used to be a
bunch of them in Orlando and you had uh a
winter Haven, and you had Plant City and you had
a Cassimi.

Speaker 4 (22:08):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (22:09):
But now everybody's on the coast except for the Tigers.
So that kind of sets them apart. But the fact
that the ballpark wasn't built as a ballpark per se,
developed from a field, you know, built in an old
Air Air Force uh Air Force uh uh uh you know,
abandoned base basically. Yeah. So you still see those old

(22:30):
metal hangars are still there. But but it just has
more character, right some of these places.

Speaker 3 (22:36):
A little personality, something a little different.

Speaker 2 (22:38):
Yeah. And you see, I will say this. They added
a couple of new things this year and they built
a huge uh covered picture of this. It's it's a
major league infield, not an outfield, but infield, and they
built a huge cover, like like a roof over it
so they can have infield in any weather and that
was kind of cool. And then they also had a

(23:00):
brand new state of the art betting cage building. You know,
who knows what goes on in there. But but you know,
it's all about its arms race, so you can.

Speaker 4 (23:09):
Build a better facilities.

Speaker 2 (23:12):
Well but but glad it didn't mean throwing the way
they have all the technology denality to look at their
swings and break them down. That's what I'm talking about.

Speaker 3 (23:22):
You know, it's not just it's nice to the way
you're talking about. It's great to hear it. You can
upgrade without losing its charm or old school field exactly,
and it seems like they're doing that out there.

Speaker 2 (23:35):
Yeah there there's still uh that that Florida's charm, not
just you know, some of these new stadiums that they
built are major league stadiums at a smaller scale, but
this is still a Spring Trading Florida stadium. And that's
what I like.

Speaker 3 (23:50):
About it, Yeah for sure, for sure.

Speaker 2 (23:52):
Okay, so so yeah, that one of these years will
have to get the powers to beat invest in some
money and have you come down. You can trust me
A for Myers only two hours away with boss re.

Speaker 3 (24:03):
Training far away from my boy, not that far, but
I digress, I digress.

Speaker 2 (24:07):
Well listen. Uh. So the Tigers there, as they said
that they're almost three quarters way through spring training. Some
of the things have been decided. I think we talked
about Casey Mayes kind of grabbing that other pitching spot
the bullpen. There's still some question marks there, but not
so much who will make it hold off a cut

(24:28):
because they got so many good irons. Uh. The one
they sat down today a gunther uh seawan gunter. He
actually was a help last year. He had you know
three yeah so but but with everyone healthy, somebody's got
to go. So he's the first one to go. But
you're gonna see some big names. I think they do

(24:48):
something with him. And then another big question mark. Uh.
One of the pictures that came back this year for
a third time with the team, a left hander who
you know he been? You know, Andrew Chafin has been
a good pitcher and not a great one, but he's
back in camp and he had a good inning. Today's up,
three up, three down. So he's another guy. He's a

(25:10):
situational of candor and a JHS likes those kind of pictures.
So he's another guy that's put himself in the mix.
So there's a lot of decisions yet we've made about
the final pitching staff, and of course we talked about
center field. Another another guy that's that's really sit in
the in the bullpen is this is this Tommy Connley
who they got from the Yankees. He's a veteran, been

(25:31):
a bullpen three years and a good one. So they
and then John Revy has another. So they brought two
vetterors in on top they had last year. So they
really they're not they're not saying we're content with their bullpen.
We want to keep improving.

Speaker 3 (25:42):
Yeah, and the bullpens was one of the major, you know,
major positives for this Tigers team. We've talked about before
the break last year. But I think when you're talking
about guys being sent down, I think the big news
today Jim was over at third base.

Speaker 4 (25:59):
Correct, Yeah, correct, j sat down to.

Speaker 2 (26:05):
Well, he had a he didn't hit that well last
year if you a member, because he had a bad risk, right,
But this year he's healthy, but he's not hit well
in camp, and I think they want to get they
don't want to get him, uh to that that the
point where, oh he's a failed prospect, you know what
I mean, So get him back for me to let
him you know, develop there. He's still young yet, but yeah,

(26:27):
he's out of the third base job for now. But well,
let's start with catching. Okay, right now, you've got Jake
Rodgers and Bill and Dingler. Dingland caught today and made
a couple of good throws. But Jake Rodgers has really
developed into one of the better defensive catchers in all
of baseball. You know, they have they have ratings and

(26:48):
everything now, right, and certainly Jake Rodgers is one of
the top five rated betrayers in all of baseball. So
he's got that's the only thing about Jake. And let's
face it, he's the only player left from the big
trade with the sent justin really to Houston. So so
having Jake Rogers still here is a little bit of
a plus, and that's their point. But he's got to

(27:09):
hit and last shoot and hit Harriott all on home runs.
A couple of years ago, they got that out of him,
maybe thrilled.

Speaker 3 (27:15):
Yeah, the reason there's only one Carlton Fisk or one
you know, Mike Piaz at that position. You know what
I mean. I get what you're saying, but I would
much rather have a very good defensive catcher and if
he can hit eight to ten home runs and hit
two fifty, two sixty, but he's very good defensively and

(27:39):
be able to handle that pitching staff right to the
best of their ability to get the best out of them.
I would take that over, you know, an offensive you know,
I'll you know, I agree, like I said, one Pats
or Johnny Bench, you're not going to get those degree right.

Speaker 2 (28:00):
One caveat though I agree with you. However, if Jake
Rodgers is one of only one or two, uh you know,
weaker bats in the lineup last year, he was one
of five, Okay, So I think they've got to fill
the You can carry that, like you said, but you've
got to fill the other holes in. You can't have
five holes in the lineup. But yeah, so I think
they're pretty good at catcher, first base. Colt Keith is

(28:21):
still you know, the jury is still out of where
they can play defensively, but they do have some some
you know experiences Bencer Torkerson. You know, at some point
they may look at Corcosen back here if he continues
to hit so But first base I don't think is
the biggest problem they have. Labor Torres is solidly at
second base, and he's a veteran hitter right handed, twice

(28:41):
an All Star. I think second base they look, Look,
he's not as good defensively as cold Keith at second base,
but I think that overall they think the better defense
out of Torres and Keith, and they did out of
Keith and Toorkolson. So we'll see and then and then
our shortstop. Another big question mark Tray Sweeney, who came
over in that trade for Flirty and helped them win

(29:02):
the division with the shortstop play. They really liked him
at short and they got him kind of pencil in
the first spot. But when you do it, hobby buyers
not gonna cut him. They're gonna pay him movie million.

Speaker 3 (29:14):
I mean, he's gonna be the utility guy. You can
put him well, you can put him at short, you
can put him at second, and by god, they had
him even at third base. Right.

Speaker 2 (29:23):
Well, here's the question, Rob, if they're paying that kind
of money and they just send Jakes Young down, could
buy as end up being that that full time or
mostly full time third base. I don't know if he hits.
If he hits, they'll find him.

Speaker 3 (29:37):
That's a big ift. And we've been wondering if he
hits the past what three four years ever since the contract.

Speaker 2 (29:43):
One thing is clear. They cutting him, Rob, They got
him for three more years, so they better find something
they can do with Maybe he can he can he
can feed the batting practice machine or or pick up
balls after the game and put him in a bucket
or something. I don't know, but but third base is
still a third base is still a big question mark
with the injuries to Matt Berling and now Jay Young
being sent down. Uh, and then the outfield. We talked

(30:04):
about that at length before Riley Green Parker Meadows certainly
what we were those two are gonna play or are
we gonna play till medals goes back? And what about them?
And what about the bat of of Malloy. You know
that's he's he's got two more hits today and he's
kind of one of those guys justin anymore who's who's

(30:24):
battled his way out of the team, but defensively he's
probably betters soon as the eight.

Speaker 3 (30:29):
Yeah, and I want to get back to that third base.
So McKinstry, by I mean, could we see a platoon
there between the I think about I think is a
better right handed hitter than Ore for right handed pitching
hitting that way, and McKinstry might be a little better
for the left handed you know, pitcher to hit. I
guess it would just they would just platoon. Yeah, until

(30:53):
you know, because I don't. I don't know, and you
would know better than me. You've talked to people down there,
do you Is there room to make a move out
of the system to try and find something off the
wood pile, you know what I mean? And would it
be would it be worth it? I mean again, it's
you know, I haven't looked to see who's out there,

(31:13):
right and maybe some cuts are coming obviously, maybe they
can pick someone up. But I just see Banya's right
now in McKinstry as you're one two whichever way, well whoever, I.

Speaker 2 (31:25):
Think you're right?

Speaker 3 (31:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (31:27):
Uh, Now here's the thing, though, Rob, you don't win
many chances with that kind of base they wanted a
guy to take that job and make it their own.
It didn't happen to happen Young, it didn't happen with
Alex Brendon. And by the way, you could have the
next five seconds to glow Boston, Rob about getting Alex
bring about it.

Speaker 3 (31:46):
I mean, he's having his own issues out there in Boston. Yeah,
he's hit a couple of home runs. But then you
got the Raphael Devers situation, and who's gonna move nothing?

Speaker 2 (31:57):
You know what, Alex Beerman is having a great spread offensively.
That's that's the Red Sex problem for not figuring that
out right.

Speaker 3 (32:07):
I mean, I'm not gonna complain about it, and I'm
not gonna complain that, But does that put the Red
Sox in that division over the hump, not only against
the Yankees but World Series contenders? Well, I don't know
that to be a fact.

Speaker 2 (32:23):
Let's talk about that. We'll talk more about your Red
Socks than that our last segment, Rob, But I don't
want to get back to the fact that what I'm
hearing down here is they're concerned to have a whole
third basement. That big third basis needs to be a
production directive position. You can't win champions with lot a
good productive third baseman. So I think they're gonna be
watching the waiver wire. They're gonna watch the ve gets cut.
They watched the Sea might be available, and yeah, I

(32:44):
think a move would definitely, definitely be possible to fill
that spot both maybe even long term if they find
somebody for a two or three year of Spain that
could play the position. So we'll see. And then of
course pH is going to be whoever's not playing somewhere
else will be to the A.

Speaker 3 (32:59):
So the guy there to start the season right d right.

Speaker 2 (33:05):
Right right exactly, so we'll see that. You know, there's
a lot of a lot of questions that have been answering,
some that have to be answered yet. We talked about
some of those.

Speaker 3 (33:13):
So I'll go down this real quick about the d H.
How long do you give do you give him forty
five fifty games and see where he's and you.

Speaker 2 (33:22):
Give him is he's like he is now in the season.
I'm good with that.

Speaker 4 (33:27):
You know, he's got nine.

Speaker 3 (33:30):
We've seen this, we've said a song and danced before, right, you.

Speaker 2 (33:33):
Know, but I was saying, I I if he if
he goes comes north and falls plat in the face.
Then I give him. I give him probably only a
month this time of year, because but but well here's
the thing, but but I'm expecting to continue what he's doing.
But they've got to get used to that's the new
reality of him. He's not going to be an all star.

(33:53):
He's not going to be Raley Green, right. But if
they can find a level they can live with you,
they'll find a spot form and that that to me,
is the best hope right now.

Speaker 3 (34:01):
But again, what's been the difference in him this year?
You think you've seen him now down there?

Speaker 2 (34:06):
What's I think his confidence level is a little bit
better than it was, and I think I think he's
more realistic about what his expectation of himself are. But
he's still he's not he's not a good selector of pitches, right,
he gets he's really susceptible to get that inside pitch
for the strikeouts. So he's got to cut down on
the strikeouts. That's one thing. He's got to make more contact.

(34:28):
But so far, so good. In the spring, I'll I'll
just say that, okay, So okay, I want to think
about spring training. I want to leave me there before
we take a break, Roberts. You know this is the
official testing period for this umpire balls and strikes. Uh
uh you know, uh, they can, they can, they can,
they can ask for a review. Basically, the picture, the

(34:50):
catcher or the hitter the only three that can ask
for this this review, okay, And most of the time,
from what I've seen, it's the picture or the catcher
and the hitter because the you know, you can't really
see as well as a catcher can. But I saw
it twice now in two days, so that the catcher
of the hitter tests their hell and the umpire looks
up to the to the booth and they run the replay.

(35:12):
And what they did in Lakeland deck has showed the
computer generator, uh regeneration of what the pitch was today.
It even showed it was one point six inches outside
and it was because it was a call the ball
and it was confirmed the ball. So so it really
is pretty elaborate.

Speaker 3 (35:28):
All right, Well, here's my thing on that everybody in
their uncle wanted to baseball to speed up. Right, We
need to speed up, We need to speed up the game.
We got to take this away, this away, this away,
so games don't last. So long three and a half
four hours or whatever it is, right, and now here
we go and inform beyond this because a full disclosure.

(35:53):
I haven't read fully up on this. Yeah, so how
many is there a is there a limit to how
many times they can took?

Speaker 2 (36:02):
Now, if you if your if your request is turned down,
then you lose that one. And so when they're both gone,
they're both gone. As long as they keep getting getting approved,
you can keep them. So we even have two for
all game if you if you keep. But here's the thing.
They answer your question though, it's it's pretty fast, okay

(36:24):
literally I would say less than thirty seconds. So it
isn't like they put the headset on. I mean the
umpire turned to the to the best box and within
thirty seconds they had a decision. So from that standpoint,
it wasn't too bad. I'm more concerned about rob My
thing is it's introducing or reducing the factor in umpire calls.

Speaker 3 (36:46):
I mean to me and I understand Andrescttalarraga, former Detroit Tiger,
got got you know, way back when when he got
the perfect game taken away. It was a horrendous call.
But I so I digress about that I understand, but
I look, that's what makes baseball maybe a little bit different.
I'm okay with the human error, right, I mean, I'm

(37:08):
okay with human error. They don't get the call right
all the time. Now, that might throw up some of
our listeners and be like, oh my god, well what
if the Red Sox were in Game seven and this happened,
and this happened. I get that, I get I just
people again, people wanted to speed up the game. But
I like what you're telling me, it's not taking as long.

(37:30):
I'll have to do some more research on it. But again,
I I kind of like there's going to be human error, right,
that's part of baseball.

Speaker 2 (37:39):
They've already they've already addressed the issue the gallorigo. There's
already a plan in place to fix that. Right if
that happened again, they get it, right. But yeah, but
the ball strikes are different, you know what I mean,
That's what I'm every pitch. Yeah, so I'm not in favorite,
but I will say this, what I saw did not

(38:00):
concern me. From your question, this is this year.

Speaker 3 (38:04):
There's still yeah, yes, still it's gonna happen, would be next.

Speaker 2 (38:08):
Year, but it is happening. In the minor leagues this year,
so we'll see we'll get more data from that.

Speaker 3 (38:13):
Right, Okay, technology, ain't it grand?

Speaker 2 (38:19):
Not not me? I can't even spell the word it's creating.
Back with with with your rob on our Baseball this week,
and of course if anyone listening can then can get
involved via social media. So if you want to throw
that information out there again, okay, break you. We'll come
back and look at this year predictions.

Speaker 3 (38:34):
Yeah, at Baseball this week on Twitter or x or
whatever you're calling it, all your social media on Facebook
as well. Baseball this Week we are there prominent on
Facebook and you can listen to us on all your
podcast platforms, whether it be Apple, iTunes, Spotify, Uh, you

(38:55):
find us Baseball this Week hosted by Jim Stark. We'll
be there for you to get your baseball fixed, especially now.
It's an exciting time. Nothing beats Jim, nothing beats Opening
Day in baseball.

Speaker 2 (39:07):
Couldn't agree more. Let's take a break. Will be right
back with more Baseball this week.

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Speaker 2 (40:54):
Well, pick me out to the ballgame. Indeed, Jim start
along with Boston Bob Bennett. We're here with any special
edition of our baseball this week. We're hoping to get
it back on schedule this year. But it's a great
time of the year. Is rab mentioned before the break
with the spring creating winding down? Opening Day coming up?
No key everyone, zero and zero an Opening Day comes right.

Speaker 3 (41:14):
Right, Today's World Series favorites, that's for sure. And real quick, Jim,
before we get to what the segment is about, I
want to go back to kind of clarify. I guess
what I was saying last segment about the balls and
strikes and the technology, right, I don't really want to
take the human error out of it. I want to
I don't want the human element to be taken out

(41:34):
of it. The error is the error. You want to
be fixed. You want to get the right call. I
just don't want to take the human element out of
the game. And but on contrast to that I was
thinking during the break, Jim, let me see if you
agree with this scenario. Now, this puts more onus on umpires, right,

(41:55):
and how they're graded right because each each group gets
graded right, I mean throughout the season. So I think
that would help the crews as well as Major League
Baseball grades their umpires for good or bad.

Speaker 2 (42:11):
So you know what, it's going to eliminate those guys
like we saw who were awful, right, had no business
call propriate. You know, for the most part, they're pretty
good like the calls I saw the question, we're all
we're all affirmed to the unperiread, right, and they're right
like ninety eight percent of the time, you know, And

(42:31):
just because you can do something technically doesn't mean you
should do it right right right.

Speaker 3 (42:36):
Well, let's okay, let's get into some predictions, shall we.

Speaker 2 (42:39):
Well, I get one more thing I want to talk
about from last year sort of. I love the Lindy's look.
I look at the Lindy's Baseball forecast. But you know
what we talked about in one part, Rob, they've got
the consensus best, the best picture in all of baseball,
they call their Schooble, which I think is pretty impress right,

(43:01):
and and and if you they break down some of
the different uh parts of the game, and and and
and and even though school is the best overall, he
doesn't have a lot of high standing in any categories,
with exception of an overall arsenal uh he's gotta he's
fifted out of out of uh fifth in the top
five or the top five of all baseball. And the

(43:21):
other one is, yeah, is depth of pitchers. His overall
arsenal pitches exactly, and then in his command he's fourth
under he does a rank in the top five. But
you know what, I'll take him the number one overall
if that's what they say.

Speaker 3 (43:38):
Because uh, that's that's that's it's not brain it's not
brain surgery, it's not rocket science. Rightfully, so well, but
coming into the season, he has every right to be
the best, called the best pitcher in baseball. Now, yeah,
let's see what happens here during by the All Star break.
But like you said, like Sparky Anderson used to say,
give me forty games before how we're what we what

(44:01):
we are? Right, I'll give you a better that's exactly
right of it. And they say knows for the pitching
staff obviously.

Speaker 2 (44:07):
So let me let me run down what Lindy's has
for the finish. Okay, from the in the in the
central vision, you can agree to disagree with their call.
But but they've got the Tigers winning it, uh, and
then the Cleveland Guardians coming in second, uh, Minnesota Twins third,
Kansas City fourth, and the Socks of course pulling up
the tail end fifth. But you know, I think you

(44:30):
can probably you could interchange just about any one of
those top four and not be too far off, didn't you.

Speaker 3 (44:35):
Yeah, this is probably gonna be one of the most
maybe you could argue the most competitive division in all
of baseball. Now, the thing I agree with is the
Chicago White Sox. Uh, it will be better, but not
obviously not enough. Right. But man, I'm looking at this
division right now, and to me, each team, I mean,

(45:00):
no one really Yeah they signed some players, but no
one had that big blockbuster move in the offseason. None
of these none of these they made they they you know,
they made moves to think that their teams are better,
but no one had that big blockbuster move, right.

Speaker 2 (45:16):
That's true?

Speaker 3 (45:18):
Who really really improved? I'm gonna go I'm gonna say this, Gym.
I'm looking at the Minnesota Twins and if they if
they can stay healthy, and I'm talking about Bruxton out
in the outfield, right, Yeah, Carrera out short at short
watch out for the Minnesota Twins. And then you got

(45:38):
Kansas City with obviously one of you could argue, one
of most most certainly best players in all of the baseball,
maybe the best young player in baseball, and Bobby Witt junior.

Speaker 4 (45:50):
Right, but what did they do?

Speaker 2 (45:53):
Yeah, Lindy's has predicting Bobby Witt as the ale most
player and and and they also have Jackson Joel as
their rookie year Picture of the Year. So that's that's
you know, that don't happen. I'm okay with that, But yeah,
I agree with your rob Minnesota again, I could make
arguments Ralph or right, but you know, look look at

(46:14):
look at uh Cleveland. Though they've got Seene Sean Bieber
uh coming back fats in.

Speaker 3 (46:19):
The offseason, Naylor is gone, a couple other bats that
came up big in the playoffs. You know, we'll see
what this offensive offense can do for Cleveland. Of course,
you know, you still got the big couple of big
names there. But I just it's just it's so I
think this could go down to the wire. You know,

(46:41):
I don't know if one team is gonna be able
to run away with the division. I just didn't see
any team really put themselves over the top. Out of
those four teams that you talked about they had to
run away with the division. Oh they got the inside
track to the division.

Speaker 2 (46:58):
Yeah. In all the and all the moons we saw
in the off season, no one in those four really
made a big move.

Speaker 4 (47:04):
That's what you're saying. But Baltimore, Yeah, yeah, but yeah.

Speaker 3 (47:11):
I did obviously, But no one in this division really
And that's where I'm sure a lot of fans are
saying to himself, well, boy, if we ended what if,
what if, it's always gonna be the what if? What
if Bregman did come to Detroit? Would that if that
put them over the top the big move that a
team needed to kind of run away possibly with the

(47:32):
with this division. I mean, obviously you got to look
at what the Tigers are and with that pitching staff
rotation coming into the year, that obviously puts them. You know,
you could argue, right like Lindy's saying that Detroit Tigers
are favorites. Yep, but you know they definitely I look
at it and they most certainly I would say, have
the best pitching one to one to five. You know,

(47:55):
you could argue Cleveland maybe, but again there's no pitching staff. Definitely,
but Detroit. I would definitely put Detroit at the head
of the class in that division. But overall team, I
mean again, I look at I look at I look
at Minnesota and if they can stay healthy and avoid
those huge injury injury bug like happened to him last year,

(48:18):
I look at Minnesota as possibly the favorite.

Speaker 2 (48:21):
Yeah, and I would say I can go on stear
I think any of those four that can stay healthy
and have a little luck, any of those four can
win it. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (48:27):
And I don't see I don't see any of these
teams nose diving like a Minnesota did or Kansas City
did last year. For the division. I mean, anything could happen.
I don't know if we'll ever see what the Tigers
did as far as you know, what they were able
to accomplish as far as a win rec win loss
record after an All Star break that was. I mean,

(48:48):
I don't know if we'll ever see something like that again.
So I think this division is gonna come down to
the wire for sure. But I'll give the slight edge
to Minnesota right now. Fall by the trouit.

Speaker 2 (49:00):
Okay, I can. I wouldn't argue with you. So let's
move to your Covenant East Division. Uh, Boston, rob and
and here's the way Lindy's has it laid out. Uh,
finishing in fifth place. Uh, they've got the Toronto Blue Jays,
the homeless, the homeless Tampa Rays would be in fourth

(49:24):
and and now third, they've got your Boston Red Sox,
then the Baltimore Orioles and the first place they're predicting
the New York Yankees.

Speaker 3 (49:33):
Yeah. I wonder if this was done after the injuries
the Yankees have had on their coat on their pitching staff.

Speaker 2 (49:39):
It was before it was before Garrett Cole, uh you know,
was diagnosed with Tommy john And uh yeah, so to me, Lucy,
Garrett Cole is a huge, huge, different of a different factor.

Speaker 3 (49:50):
Yeah, but that often and then Soto not having Soto
there would judge, you know, how much of an impact? Yeah,
how much? How much of an impact?

Speaker 2 (49:59):
With that?

Speaker 3 (50:00):
I like what Boston has done, And I promise fans
I'm not gonna go on my Boston high horse and
just talk about the Red Sox, but I do like
what they were able to do, not just to get Bregman,
but more importantly to get the ace from the Chicago
White Sox because they've been looking at they've been looking
for an ace for that pitching staff for for ever
since Chris Saale A healthy Chris Sale. Right. So I

(50:22):
do like well, I do like the moves they've been
able to do in the in the off season, I
would probably put them over Baltimore. Okay, but it's gonna
be a dogfight between those three teams as well.

Speaker 2 (50:36):
Well. I agree, I think they have the anchs overrated
frank that I think I think they lost a lot
of offense. Uh and certainly with Jerick Cole going in
of the knife Tom of John that makes a big difference.
But yeah, I think any one of those three that
kind of like what we said about, anyone of those
street could end up being the team with a little
bit of luck. Now Boston control, they gonna get a

(50:57):
stream down. This thing with with the rafield. I just
don't get that. It's it's it's like it's like a
soap opera, right, what happened? What happened?

Speaker 4 (51:06):
To day?

Speaker 2 (51:06):
When I play where my coach tells.

Speaker 3 (51:09):
Me the days are long gone, man, Yet these pro leagues.
Their player driven, man, they are player driven, and.

Speaker 4 (51:18):
So well, he's made no figure out.

Speaker 3 (51:20):
Figure it out? I mean you have to. I mean,
Devers is the face of the franchise, right, I mean
it really had really they gave him that big extension
and rightfully so, he's one of the song I would
put him as part one of the top fifteen players
in baseball. Right now, let me ask you this.

Speaker 2 (51:36):
Did Boston make a mistake and adding a guy like
like like uh Bregman because they've got a situation with
with with devas could that be uh you know.

Speaker 4 (51:46):
Kind of right?

Speaker 3 (51:49):
I mean, would Devers be okay with Bregman if you
just look at Bregman as a player. No, it wasn't
a mistake, right, I mean you want that, you want
that right handed hit and this so much like much
like the Tigers, the Red Sox were looking for that
right handed here and he hits well at Fenway, you know,
I mean, he can feast on the Fenway right and

(52:12):
he's got that, he's got that experience. The Red Sox
are a very young team. They got some You talk
about the farm system of the Tigers, and rightfully so, well,
the Red Sox aren't too far behind in that and
that aspect of things. So, uh, we'll see. I think
that everybody's a professional. We'll see, but I think they'll

(52:32):
be able to figure it out. There might be some
growing pains to begin the season right, just like every team.
But I don't think the longer this quote unquote, as
you said soap opera continues, let's just nip it in
the bud because the longer it goes it could end
up being an issue.

Speaker 2 (52:49):
Jim, you're right, Well it's too bad too, because you
know when you had a player like Greg, when you
ought to be throwing a party, not not having a
little little crying jag. Whatever deverest problem is, Okay, let's
look at real quick at the at the West Drive
before we take a night for tonight. A little bit
of a mixed maash out there. I think any one
of again, at least maybe three teams could be in

(53:11):
the mix. Solly. Uh, Now, the way the Limby's had it,
they have the Mariners because they're unbelievably good pitching the
five starters. That probably is the best pitching staff in baseball.
I would say those Mariners, Uh, the their starting pitcher
had a three point three eight era last year as
a group. Then you've got they had the Texas Rangers
coming in second again they're counting on Jacob de Gram

(53:32):
being healthy. Then you've got Houston, which is a perennial favorite,
coming in third. And then you got the A's. Actually
they had They got the Angels finishing behind the Ages.
Is pretty surprised because the Angels are big money, big
market team, but they can't seem to make good moves.
So the West seems to be kind of a missmash.

Speaker 3 (53:48):
Yeah, this is it for the Seattle Mariners. We've been
talking if you fallow baseball, the Mariners have been kind
of the sweetheart pick. You know, a lot of people
call you know, the dark horse that could make a
run over the way last couple of years because of
that pitching staff. Right, So this is I really think
this is a make or break year for the Seattle

(54:08):
Mariners to take the next step into the playoffs. And yeah,
it'll be real interesting with the Houston Astros. I mean
the drama and you talk about a soap opera.

Speaker 2 (54:20):
Then they traded they traded Cal Tucker and they and
Gregman left. The other are two big holes in that lineup.

Speaker 3 (54:27):
But their farm system, I mean they just over the
past what decade or so, and we talk about the
farm system again, I don't know over the past decade
or so if who's had a better farm system than
the Houston Astros. They just again, right, they just plug it.

Speaker 2 (54:43):
They they get more out of their players I think
to any other team in baseball.

Speaker 3 (54:47):
Yeah, so it there they are. They are a true
wild card team in the American League for me this
year to see how they adjust and where the leadership
comes from within the player is within that group because
of I mean you still got a TV right, I mean,
he almost certainly is a leader of that team.

Speaker 2 (55:06):
Uture Hall of Famer probably.

Speaker 3 (55:07):
Right right, So, but I think that they are a
true wild card scenario in the American League this year.
But I think all the I think pressure for sure
is on Seattle for sure. I mean, this is this is.

Speaker 2 (55:22):
Boston, Rob Bennett. I want to thank you for getting
all put together for the favorite very special predictions.

Speaker 3 (55:27):
You just can put me on the limb, all right,
I understand, No.

Speaker 2 (55:29):
No, I kind of went along with you. I think
I'm gonna go with the chalk. I Actually I like Boston,
maybe even more than the Yankees, because I think Boston's
got a better a better team. The Yankees, I think
are gonna be surprised, surprised and supporting. I think this
year how.

Speaker 3 (55:46):
Judge gonna be without Sodo And.

Speaker 2 (55:49):
Yeah again, I think they probably put them in the
first place almost by rope. You know what I mean.
It's this plug them in. But listen, I want I
want to thank you for doing all you did tonight.
I want to thanks for bringing me sure you know,
sharing my time down here in Lakeland, and give us
edition of again It's been fun, the spring training edition
of the Baseball that you hope they have. This is

(56:10):
a regular feature, but before we go, why don't you
run down the social media opportunities one more time?

Speaker 3 (56:15):
Yeah, tech us on Facebook Baseball this week and all
your to all your podcast platform platforms. You listen to
your podcasts on iTunes, Spotify, Spreaker, wherever you listen to
your wherever you listen to your podcasts. I'll spit it
out we are there people this week. And then of

(56:36):
course on social media with X and or if you
still call it Twitter like I do because I'm an
old man. I'm turning fifty this year. Uh, you follow
us at baseball this week, we'll have some cool stuff.
We'll have some cool stuff coming for you to check out.

Speaker 2 (56:51):
Well, yeah, and this soda. Yeah, we won't just talking
about the Tigers too. We'll get back to some college
based officions, bab high school stuff. So what of the
whole range of follow this year, But we just want
to make sure we get this thing off the good start.
So for Boston, Rob Then and Zim Stark, thanks for
joining us here on BASEA. Hopefully we'll talk to you
real soon. And for some from Lakeland, see you in
just a couple weeks for opening Day