March 22, 2023 • 24 mins
On the latest MLB offseason edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob leads off by sharing his thoughts on Japan's dramatic championship game victory over the United States at the World Baseball Classic, why it's so important for Shohei Ohtani to parlay that WBC success into MLB postseason success and how Jose Altuve's unfortunate injury at the WBC could impact the Houston Astros moving forward. Plus, World Series champion and Los Angeles Angels television analyst Mark Gubicza swings by to discuss the WBC storybook ending featuring Ohtani vs Mike Trout, how the Angels' win-loss record this upcoming season could impact Ohtani's looming free agency, what we can expect from Los Angeles in the rugged American League and much more! Finally, Rob closes the show by reminding us once and for all why MLB is better than the NFL and the NBA.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
From the Berkshires 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 seven, Rob Parker. Welcome into the podcast. I'm
(00:22):
your host, Rob Parker. What a show we have for
you Today. We're gonna talk with Mark Gubazar, the former
Major League pitcher and current Los Angeles Angels color commentator
for Balis. He'll break down the WBC from a pictures
damn point and talk about the future with Oltani and
(00:43):
the Angels. That and much more. Let's go to lead off.
It's getting rot off to keep him on. Rob's hot
take on the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball.
Number one. I don't know about you if you didn't
get goosebumps watching the Championship of the WBC where Japan
(01:09):
beat the United States three to two, and it was
epic for a close a finish as Oltani's on the
Mound show, Hey Oltani pitching to his teammate with the Angels,
Mike Trout three to two, Game three, two pitch and
he strikes out Trout to win the game for Japan.
(01:30):
I mean, talk about suitable for framing and a great
moment for baseball and a sold out stadium in Miami,
fans going crazy. It was scripted. I mean, if you
wrote the script for Hollywood, nobody would believe it was real.
That's how good it was. My goodness, really, it was
(01:50):
like playoff baseball in March. Normally spring training games are
laid back, people just getting their swings in. No big deal, man,
this was epic. This was absolutely epic. Number two. On
the heels of this loss, don't look now, but the
USA is gonna push back. After all, baseballs our national pastime,
(02:15):
after Double Day invented baseball right here in the good
us of A. And we didn't have our best team.
We had an all star lineup, but there were plenty
of American players who weren't there, especially when it came
to pitching, where the best of the best should have
been on the mount. And Mike Trout has vowed that
(02:36):
he will get those players to play the next time
that the WBC takes place, and wants to win for
the United States, wants to field the best team and
get all the best players, and I love it. Competition
early way better. You're revved up way before spring the
(02:59):
regular season starts. But the games are meaningful. You're playing
for something, and there's team pride and country pride, and
we saw that. Even Shohail Tany said it was the
greatest thing that he'd ever done. Really, this guy wanted
an MVP as a pitcher and a hitter in the
major leagues and winning for his country in the WBC.
(03:21):
In that moment he said he thought was the greatest
thing he had ever accomplished. That's what we want more of,
and we want more players from the United States to
join in. It would have been great to see Aaron
Judge or Freddie Freeman and people like that in the
United States played well. They had a great team, but
let everybody get and let the best of the best
(03:43):
and let that team play against the world number three.
If there was one negative about the WBC, we know
the injuries. Edwin Diaz out for the season the Mets
closed or now that was on the celebration after he
struck out the final batter to win the game and
he was injured during a celebration. That's a freak injury.
(04:06):
You can't blame the WBC. And the same thing. I
know people in Houston assaulty can we get planners online?
One they're mad because second baseman Jose Altuve broke his
thumb in a WBC game and can't have any baseball
activities for at least two months. So that's gonna derail
(04:28):
the Astros at least at the start of the season.
Obviously he'll be able to come back, but that could
have happened in a spring training game. You can't blame
the WBC for any of the injuries that took place.
Injuries are part of the game. They could happen in
spring training, preseason games, whatever you want to call them,
So don't blame the WBC. It was a great tournament
(04:53):
for the fans, for the players who participated in and
for the viewers people who watched at home. And this
is baseball on an international stage. The numbers all across
the world where eye pop, and especially in Japan where
the eighty million people watched, I mean some some ridiculous
number like that, incredible amount of eyeballs on the international
(05:18):
play of baseball. Here comes the big interview. Listen and Larry,
it's so good, all right, Now let's welcome into the podcast.
Mark goobazare, of course, a former major league pitcher for
fourteen years in the big leagues and the current Angel's
color commentator. Mark, Welcome to the podcast. Appreciate you, Rob,
(05:42):
I appreciate it, man. I'll tell you what. It's been electrifying.
WBC and spring training games have been great. I can't
wait for this baseball season get rolling. I'm with you.
But let's go to the WBC. And you know what,
you couldn't have written a script in Holly would better
than last night. It was suitable for framing with two Angels,
(06:05):
two the top shelf star players in Oltani and Trout
facing each other with the game on the line. How
great was that last night? You know, Rob, I'll tell
you what. It was crazy because in spring training before
those both of those left for their you know, to
play for their country. I had a chance to sit
down and had an interview with them guys, and I
(06:26):
asked the same questions, what would happen if you guys
got locked up against each other? And showy Otani's response,
he's they're smiling and having a good time with it.
Finally goes God only knows was his answer. So then
I go back and asked trout the same question. To Trouty,
he's like, all right, what did show? He say? He goes,
God only knows that he just almost fell down and laugh.
(06:46):
He goes, you know what, you know? Basically, that's what
it comes down to it. I guess what it came
down there was Show. He was like God last night
where he went out there and struck out Trouty on
that three two wicked sweeper slider that you couldn't ask
for a better ending. I mean, the whole entire tournament
was incredibly added. With some guys that were hurting. That's
that was bad to see. But other than that, I'll
(07:07):
tell you the intensity of you know, every one of
those games was absolutely felt like it was the seventh
game in the World Series every single night. I agree.
I mean it was a home run to me and
anybody who loves baseball who who watched that it didn't
think it was something special. They're missing the boat and
can you imagine the Miami Marlins. They had to be
(07:31):
jealous to see that ballpark packed out and the electricity
in the ballpark. Yeah, you know, I'm hoping there's some
carryover effect because you know I had I had many
of opponents, you know, giving me grief because I was
always a fairly emotional guy on the mount when I
got a big out or you know, I was fist pumping,
and I didn't like any of my opponents I faced
(07:52):
during the course. Again, it could have even been my
brother on the other side, if with but he had
a different uniform on. So I want to see emotion
like that, and I want to see if from you know, everybody,
you know, big moments, moments you feel that have a
chance to change the course of a game. I know
it's a long season, one hundred and sixty two games,
but I hope that intensity keeps up in baseball because
(08:13):
I think it's it's resonated from baseball fans or even
non baseball fans, how excited these players were, no doubt,
and Japan, I mean there's something to reckon with. We've
keep seeing the great players come over from Japan and
they get bigger and bigger every single time. I remember
what you know, Matt Suey was when he came to
(08:34):
the Yankees, helped him win a World Series, and now
obviously Otani and being a two way player just talk
about the talent in Japan. Yeah, I mean, I knew
they were going to be a tough drawl for anybody
going through the tournament, especially even in the finals against
the USA team. Their pitching was so good, so deep.
If you know, guys that could come in out of
(08:56):
the bullpen. It starters obviously at Darvish and Otani come
out of the open late for Team Japan, and they
were gonna be good. They make you know their their
discipline as far as making plays, the way they hit
the ball hard, they power, but also get hit the
ball on the line the other way. You know it
was gonna be a tough one. I was lucky enough
(09:16):
to go there in eighty eight and tour with a
bunch of great MLB stars going over there, and I'm like, Wow,
they're phenomenal players, but you're right, they're even better at
this point because they look at you know, their goal
was this most of the players their goal is to
play in MLB, but they also realized now that they're
on an even playing field as far as talent, and
(09:37):
I was it was really great to see that. I've
had a lot of good friends now I've met over
the yearson Shoeotani has been wearing the Angels uniform from
Japan and the media people this the excitement level that
they love baseball so much, and now you're seeing the
talent on display and everyone gets a chance to see it.
Our guess is Mark Gubaza, of course, former Major league
pitcher and current Angels color analyst on television, And yeah,
(10:02):
we just heard the commissioner also say that he's hoping
that the major leagues will the USA team will have
some more of the top line starters get involved in
this tournament after the success of this. Would you like
to see that as well? Yeah, that's the one thing
that you know, everyone keeps asking, you know, because you
kind of ramp it up a little bit more so
(10:23):
when you're in such an intense environment like the WBC,
and we saw what it was, especially when you're playing
for your country and the fans so into it. I mean,
record numbers of people watching, record number of people attending
these games. But I mean just on a personal level,
every game I took them out in a spring training game,
I never wanted to give up a hit there. So
I can't imagine where the thought process it would be.
(10:46):
The chance for pitchers that potentially get hurt, you know,
by throwing and amping up their game. At that point,
you're already ready to pitch in a game in spring
training the first day, and when you're facing major league hitters,
you're never just kind of going, I'm just working on things.
You're trying to get people out. So I think you're
gonna see, especially the way it turned out, the excitement level,
You're gonna see a lot more of the star pitchers,
(11:07):
I think now wanting to participate in the tournament there
in twenty twenty six. And Mark, you brought up the
injury factor. That's what everybody's afraid of, and I get it.
You hate to lose a star player playing in uh,
you know, an exhibition tournament before the season. But you know,
we had the two big injuries. Of course Edwin Diez,
(11:28):
which is really hard because that was on a celebratory
kind of thing, you know, not playing the game. It
was after the game was over. And of course Jose
Altuve would have broken thumb. But even in Jose's case, Mark,
that could happen in a pre in a exhibition game.
It wasn't the WBC per se, right, I mean, I
(11:50):
can't hold that against either case against the WBC. Totally agree. Especially,
you know, you can be in a spring training game
where guys are you know, you know a little bit wid.
You're facing some younger players that are going to get
an opportunity to pitch in games and in a spring
training environment, so they're trying to throw the ball exceptionally hard,
trying to make an impression on, you know, the organization,
(12:10):
and it could be while the times you get hit
by a pitch, guys have been hit by pitches many, many,
many many times in spring training games, So that part
of it you feel for al Tube. I love the
way he plays the game, Diaz, I'm a gigantic fan
of him. I mean, his energy level. I remember watching
too many times when he was with Seattle, how good
he wasn't and going over to the Mets and see
(12:31):
what he has done now and the excitement level he
brings to the Mets and baseball fans in general, even
when he walks out of the you know, out of
the bullpen and get ready to go in the games.
But those things happen, I mean, there's nothing you can
do about it. There's there's always freak injuries you know
when you play enough games, especially even in spring training,
you're playing every day there and that some things could
go wrong and that's what you hope to avoid. But
(12:53):
that's why you know, organizational's depth is so important for
every team, and that's why you play this game. But
I still reflect on it. I mean, how perfect of
an ending was it? You have Trout versus Otani. I
mean it's you can't even Hollywood can't even get that
script any better than that. I mean, it was perfect,
It really was. All right, let's talk about the elephant
(13:16):
in the room, which is johe Oltani and this possibly
could be his last season, is going to be a
free agent after this? And a couple thoughts. First, what
would you do if you were ownership the general manager,
because we saw something similar with Juan Soto where the
(13:37):
Nationals offered him four hundred and forty million dollars. Anybody
who says Baseball's dying mark is crazy four hundred and
forty million dollars guaranteed he turned it down and then
they immediately traded him. Do you have to make a
big offer to Oldtani and see where his head is
and maybe move him, or do you let him play
(13:58):
out the year. How do you how do you go
about this? Yeah, this even you know talking you know
Perry Menacing and general managers for the Angels, and Artie Morano,
the owner for the Angels. My feeling is Otani's going
to be wearing an anti uniform this entire season. They've
build a team now, and regardless of what other people
love to say, and for some reason they continue to
(14:18):
say this that the Angels need pitching. If you look
at their numbers, if you really delve into their numbers,
if people actually did their research, they were top ten
in baseball as far as starters era. I mean, they're
that good and are only better now. You saw stand
the ball on a huge stage. He struck out Trout
and Otany for Team Mexico and Reid Detmers he threw
a no hitter last year and immaculate inning. He's throwing
(14:40):
the ball even better in spring training. So you have
four outstanding arms right there. You got Tyler Anners that
they picked up from the Dodgers, who was an All
star last year, fifteen game winner in the ARRA under three.
So and the depth they added, so the team is going,
in my opinion, is as deep as I've seen, and
I've been knowing this now this is my seventeenth year.
So the feeling is and Showe has said this, if
(15:04):
the team is winning, that's going to make everything better.
Now that means there's a really good chance, he states,
with the Angels, I still feel there's a real good
possibility that the constant questions it will be difficult. And
Aaron Judge dealt with that all last year himself and
he was outstanding. I'm still shocked at how well he played,
especially playing for the Yankees and questions about you'll leave
(15:26):
it or not, but he went out did an amazing job.
So I expect show It to have even a better
year this year, especially when you saw him in that
WBC that you know there's going to be questions that
it's going to be you know, all that feeling that wow,
what do you do? You just let them go at
the end of the season. It's all about winning. I
think that's all they care about right now. I think
(15:48):
you're right to u with the Judge thing. So you
know where you turned. He turned out two hundred and
thirteen million. You know, as an older player who normally
doesn't get that kind of deal, you know what I mean.
At age thirty that was incredible. And then the perform
on that stage the Yankees were playing in meaningful games
that mattered. That was a testament to him. And I
(16:11):
think you're right, old Tony can can duplicate that. Yeah,
I mean, and his discipline is off the charts. And
seeing him and talking to him every day, and the
routines he goes through. It's thinking most people, when you're
asking enough, you're tired, you kind of think, well, maybe
I am Now. His first answer always a crossboarders. I
(16:32):
want to win. That's it. That's all you're gonna get
a problem. I want to win. And that's why I
think he's so unique. That's why we all joke around
and we all say it now he's a unicorn because
obviously anybody's doing what he's doing isn't real. So I mean,
it's a phenomenal. But sitting back and watching him performed
now as a pictured way he has. He has grown
(16:53):
exponentially as a pitcher and as a hitter too, And
there was big moments. If you look at his numbers,
it's runners in scoring position, they're they're best in the game.
The numbers when he's on the mount with runners in
scoring position are the best in the game as far
as preventing runs scored. So he's so unique, and he's driven,
and I think, and he says it all the time
(17:15):
to me, that he's just there. He wants to perform,
but he also knows that Mike it's Mike Trout's team.
And then and I think right now you're seeing Trout
more motivated than ever. When you have a player like
Trout motivated, I think it could be a really special
year for him as well. The pot the padres the
Angels really need, and I think baseball needs to see
(17:37):
these two guys in the postseason. We just sawt to
WBC the Angels not being a part of the postseason.
With such tremendous players as as Trout and Oltani, how
important is it for baseball? People want to see these
guys on the big stage. One hundred percent agree with
you on that one, Rob, And that's why I think
their goal this year, even though the whole conversation and
(18:00):
all went along was Arte Moreno was going to sell
the team, but he was also told Perry Manassy and
the GM to improve this team anyway possible and then
there was there was obviously some great names in a
shortstop position, and Trey Turner being one of them, and
obviously Carlos care and everything with him that you had
that one player, but he realized you needed a number
of players to really build out a roster. And when
(18:22):
you look at the really good teams, you know, the Astros,
the Dodgers, the Yankees, you have superstars, but you also
have very good players to supplement around. In other words,
you're making a movie. You have your stars, but you
also need your co stars. And I think that's what
he went out and did. When you bring in a Hunter,
renfro A, gr Shellow, Brandon dry A, Tyler Anderson, and
Carlos Estevis, I mean you all of a sudden now
(18:43):
have a very deep roster that if guys need a
day off, if guys get banged up, that you're still
gonna be okay. Anthony Rendon, you look back at twenty nineteen,
he was unreal for the Nationals. That's why they won
the World Series. And he looks incredibly healthy this year
and motivated to play the game. Where everyone's saying does
(19:03):
he I mean, does he have a lot left? I'm
telling you. He looks phenomenal, So you put him in there.
You have Otani, I mean Trout Otani, Rendon, Hunter, Renfro,
Taylor Warden in front of those guys, and then behind
him he got Jared Walsh's completely healthy. Right now, you
got Brandon Drury, Jiro Shelly could play a number of
different positions all of a sudden if you're a pitcher
(19:25):
going against the Angels. Unlike what we saw after some
injuries to them last year, it was a different team.
Now they're deep enough where they can have a few
guys take a day off, a couple of guys get
banged up, that they're still a very deep line up.
Our last thing with Mark Gubaza, of course, the former
Major league pitcher and Angel's color analysts on Bally Sports
(19:47):
last year, there were a lot of players I remember
CC Sabathia, maybe j D. Martinez, and maybe a couple
of others who thought that shoe Hey should be the
MVP every year because they both Everyone was saying, you know,
trying to pitch and be of that caliber, and of
course the kype of hitter he is. But Aaron Judge
(20:07):
won pretty easily the al MVP. I thought that was
the right choice despite what Old Tani did. Where are
you on that? Was that the right choice? You'd think
that Judge won it last year or was it really
Old Tani? Yeah? Wow, that is a great question of
(20:28):
Aaron Judge this season last year was off the charts
and always been a big fan of his many many
many years. But to do that on their that you know,
on that stage, is phenomenal. But that being said, what
showy and when people say games weren't as meaningful anytime
you take them out as a pitcher, it doesn't matter
(20:49):
if your team is Owen one sixty two. Everything you
do is meaningful. What he did at the plate, I mean,
I reflect back in these two games he had against
Kansas City. They were down, the Angels were down by
significant amount. He had two three run home runs, he
had eight RBI's, His emotion after his second home run
was unreal. And then the very next day he goes
out and goes eight inning. He strikes out a career
(21:09):
at thirteen. I mean, no human being does that. Is
he the MVP? Yes, I mean I think part of
it comes down to Barry Bonds should have won the
MVP way more than he did. But people get so like, oh, well,
he wanted so many times to vote for somebody else. Now,
Aaron Judge was incredibly good. So as much as I
think Shoeotani was the MVP and I would have voted
(21:30):
for him, I really didn't have a problem when Aaron
Judge win the MVP too, because he was that good.
But Showeotani. What he did is era, his offensive numbers,
everything about him, and it don't even get me into
how incredible fielding of a pitcher he is too. I mean,
he did everything like no other human being did on
the mount fielding his position he was, He's the MVP
(21:52):
every year were doing what he's doing, But there's always
a guy that says, hey, listen, don't forget me. And
I think I was Aaron Judge last year, so I
applaud him for his season. There's no one that I
thought these last two years was even close to what
shoeo Tani did. His name is Mark gubazaar Man. As
good as it gets, we appreciate you, the former major
league pitcher and of course catch them on Angels games
(22:14):
as the color analyst for Ballet Sports. Mark appreciate it.
Can't wait for the season I'm with you. I'm excited.
I think there are a lot of good teams, a
lot of good players, man, and that WBC has set
us up nicely to get the season Roland, So thanks
so much anytime, Rob, I'll tell you what. You're exactly right,
the WBC guy. Everyone's thinking, Okay, this is going to
be a great carry on. I just hope the players again,
(22:37):
hope the players and the fans have that same enthusiasm
every single night for baseball, because you know what, I'll
be doing that in the booth, no doubt. Stay well,
thanks for I appreciate it, man. I'll bring in the closer.
Here's why MLB is better than the NFL or NBA,
and it isn't even close. Reason number seven hundred and
(23:04):
fifty five why Major League Baseball is better than the
NBA and the NFL. You just saw it. You just
saw preseason baseball exhibition tournament that mattered, my goodness, gracious, really,
(23:26):
and the players cared. This wasn't some NBA All Star
game where nobody's playing defense and nobody cared because people
were afraid to get hurt. This wasn't the pro ball
where we were reduced to tag football. Flag football, whatever
you want to call it, because nobody wants to get
hurt and they don't want to play each other. Here
(23:46):
is competition. They weren't throwing underhand at the WBC. They
weren't say here, hit it, no, I don't care. I
don't care where you hit the ball. I don't care
you a home run. No. It was the ultimate degree
of competence, Hian, with something on the line, playing for
the fans, playing for your country, and playing for yourself.
(24:09):
And did you hear those crowds. The crowds were outstanding, unbelievable.
The Miami Marlins must have been sick to see their
house and their you know, stadium filled to the brim.
They wish they could get people in Miami to come
to their games. That was incredible And that's again why
baseball is king of the world. In the words of
(24:40):
New York TV legend the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you
for your time this time until next time. Rob Parker out,
he can't get this could be an inside the Parker
See you next week. Sad time, same bad station.
From the Berkshires 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 seven, Rob Parker. Welcome into the podcast. I'm
(00:22):
your host, Rob Parker. What a show we have for
you Today. We're gonna talk with Mark Gubazar, the former
Major League pitcher and current Los Angeles Angels color commentator
for Balis. He'll break down the WBC from a pictures
damn point and talk about the future with Oltani and
(00:43):
the Angels. That and much more. Let's go to lead off.
It's getting rot off to keep him on. Rob's hot
take on the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball.
Number one. I don't know about you if you didn't
get goosebumps watching the Championship of the WBC where Japan
(01:09):
beat the United States three to two, and it was
epic for a close a finish as Oltani's on the
Mound show, Hey Oltani pitching to his teammate with the Angels,
Mike Trout three to two, Game three, two pitch and
he strikes out Trout to win the game for Japan.
(01:30):
I mean, talk about suitable for framing and a great
moment for baseball and a sold out stadium in Miami,
fans going crazy. It was scripted. I mean, if you
wrote the script for Hollywood, nobody would believe it was real.
That's how good it was. My goodness, really, it was
(01:50):
like playoff baseball in March. Normally spring training games are
laid back, people just getting their swings in. No big deal, man,
this was epic. This was absolutely epic. Number two. On
the heels of this loss, don't look now, but the
USA is gonna push back. After all, baseballs our national pastime,
(02:15):
after Double Day invented baseball right here in the good
us of A. And we didn't have our best team.
We had an all star lineup, but there were plenty
of American players who weren't there, especially when it came
to pitching, where the best of the best should have
been on the mount. And Mike Trout has vowed that
(02:36):
he will get those players to play the next time
that the WBC takes place, and wants to win for
the United States, wants to field the best team and
get all the best players, and I love it. Competition
early way better. You're revved up way before spring the
(02:59):
regular season starts. But the games are meaningful. You're playing
for something, and there's team pride and country pride, and
we saw that. Even Shohail Tany said it was the
greatest thing that he'd ever done. Really, this guy wanted
an MVP as a pitcher and a hitter in the
major leagues and winning for his country in the WBC.
(03:21):
In that moment he said he thought was the greatest
thing he had ever accomplished. That's what we want more of,
and we want more players from the United States to
join in. It would have been great to see Aaron
Judge or Freddie Freeman and people like that in the
United States played well. They had a great team, but
let everybody get and let the best of the best
(03:43):
and let that team play against the world number three.
If there was one negative about the WBC, we know
the injuries. Edwin Diaz out for the season the Mets
closed or now that was on the celebration after he
struck out the final batter to win the game and
he was injured during a celebration. That's a freak injury.
(04:06):
You can't blame the WBC. And the same thing. I
know people in Houston assaulty can we get planners online?
One they're mad because second baseman Jose Altuve broke his
thumb in a WBC game and can't have any baseball
activities for at least two months. So that's gonna derail
(04:28):
the Astros at least at the start of the season.
Obviously he'll be able to come back, but that could
have happened in a spring training game. You can't blame
the WBC for any of the injuries that took place.
Injuries are part of the game. They could happen in
spring training, preseason games, whatever you want to call them,
So don't blame the WBC. It was a great tournament
(04:53):
for the fans, for the players who participated in and
for the viewers people who watched at home. And this
is baseball on an international stage. The numbers all across
the world where eye pop, and especially in Japan where
the eighty million people watched, I mean some some ridiculous
number like that, incredible amount of eyeballs on the international
(05:18):
play of baseball. Here comes the big interview. Listen and Larry,
it's so good, all right, Now let's welcome into the podcast.
Mark goobazare, of course, a former major league pitcher for
fourteen years in the big leagues and the current Angel's
color commentator. Mark, Welcome to the podcast. Appreciate you, Rob,
(05:42):
I appreciate it, man. I'll tell you what. It's been electrifying.
WBC and spring training games have been great. I can't
wait for this baseball season get rolling. I'm with you.
But let's go to the WBC. And you know what,
you couldn't have written a script in Holly would better
than last night. It was suitable for framing with two Angels,
(06:05):
two the top shelf star players in Oltani and Trout
facing each other with the game on the line. How
great was that last night? You know, Rob, I'll tell
you what. It was crazy because in spring training before
those both of those left for their you know, to
play for their country. I had a chance to sit
down and had an interview with them guys, and I
(06:26):
asked the same questions, what would happen if you guys
got locked up against each other? And showy Otani's response,
he's they're smiling and having a good time with it.
Finally goes God only knows was his answer. So then
I go back and asked trout the same question. To Trouty,
he's like, all right, what did show? He say? He goes,
God only knows that he just almost fell down and laugh.
(06:46):
He goes, you know what, you know? Basically, that's what
it comes down to it. I guess what it came
down there was Show. He was like God last night
where he went out there and struck out Trouty on
that three two wicked sweeper slider that you couldn't ask
for a better ending. I mean, the whole entire tournament
was incredibly added. With some guys that were hurting. That's
that was bad to see. But other than that, I'll
(07:07):
tell you the intensity of you know, every one of
those games was absolutely felt like it was the seventh
game in the World Series every single night. I agree.
I mean it was a home run to me and
anybody who loves baseball who who watched that it didn't
think it was something special. They're missing the boat and
can you imagine the Miami Marlins. They had to be
(07:31):
jealous to see that ballpark packed out and the electricity
in the ballpark. Yeah, you know, I'm hoping there's some
carryover effect because you know I had I had many
of opponents, you know, giving me grief because I was
always a fairly emotional guy on the mount when I
got a big out or you know, I was fist pumping,
and I didn't like any of my opponents I faced
(07:52):
during the course. Again, it could have even been my
brother on the other side, if with but he had
a different uniform on. So I want to see emotion
like that, and I want to see if from you know, everybody,
you know, big moments, moments you feel that have a
chance to change the course of a game. I know
it's a long season, one hundred and sixty two games,
but I hope that intensity keeps up in baseball because
(08:13):
I think it's it's resonated from baseball fans or even
non baseball fans, how excited these players were, no doubt,
and Japan, I mean there's something to reckon with. We've
keep seeing the great players come over from Japan and
they get bigger and bigger every single time. I remember
what you know, Matt Suey was when he came to
(08:34):
the Yankees, helped him win a World Series, and now
obviously Otani and being a two way player just talk
about the talent in Japan. Yeah, I mean, I knew
they were going to be a tough drawl for anybody
going through the tournament, especially even in the finals against
the USA team. Their pitching was so good, so deep.
If you know, guys that could come in out of
(08:56):
the bullpen. It starters obviously at Darvish and Otani come
out of the open late for Team Japan, and they
were gonna be good. They make you know their their
discipline as far as making plays, the way they hit
the ball hard, they power, but also get hit the
ball on the line the other way. You know it
was gonna be a tough one. I was lucky enough
(09:16):
to go there in eighty eight and tour with a
bunch of great MLB stars going over there, and I'm like, Wow,
they're phenomenal players, but you're right, they're even better at
this point because they look at you know, their goal
was this most of the players their goal is to
play in MLB, but they also realized now that they're
on an even playing field as far as talent, and
(09:37):
I was it was really great to see that. I've
had a lot of good friends now I've met over
the yearson Shoeotani has been wearing the Angels uniform from
Japan and the media people this the excitement level that
they love baseball so much, and now you're seeing the
talent on display and everyone gets a chance to see it.
Our guess is Mark Gubaza, of course, former Major league
pitcher and current Angels color analyst on television, And yeah,
(10:02):
we just heard the commissioner also say that he's hoping
that the major leagues will the USA team will have
some more of the top line starters get involved in
this tournament after the success of this. Would you like
to see that as well? Yeah, that's the one thing
that you know, everyone keeps asking, you know, because you
kind of ramp it up a little bit more so
(10:23):
when you're in such an intense environment like the WBC,
and we saw what it was, especially when you're playing
for your country and the fans so into it. I mean,
record numbers of people watching, record number of people attending
these games. But I mean just on a personal level,
every game I took them out in a spring training game,
I never wanted to give up a hit there. So
I can't imagine where the thought process it would be.
(10:46):
The chance for pitchers that potentially get hurt, you know,
by throwing and amping up their game. At that point,
you're already ready to pitch in a game in spring
training the first day, and when you're facing major league hitters,
you're never just kind of going, I'm just working on things.
You're trying to get people out. So I think you're
gonna see, especially the way it turned out, the excitement level,
You're gonna see a lot more of the star pitchers,
(11:07):
I think now wanting to participate in the tournament there
in twenty twenty six. And Mark, you brought up the
injury factor. That's what everybody's afraid of, and I get it.
You hate to lose a star player playing in uh,
you know, an exhibition tournament before the season. But you know,
we had the two big injuries. Of course Edwin Diez,
(11:28):
which is really hard because that was on a celebratory
kind of thing, you know, not playing the game. It
was after the game was over. And of course Jose
Altuve would have broken thumb. But even in Jose's case, Mark,
that could happen in a pre in a exhibition game.
It wasn't the WBC per se, right, I mean, I
(11:50):
can't hold that against either case against the WBC. Totally agree. Especially,
you know, you can be in a spring training game
where guys are you know, you know a little bit wid.
You're facing some younger players that are going to get
an opportunity to pitch in games and in a spring
training environment, so they're trying to throw the ball exceptionally hard,
trying to make an impression on, you know, the organization,
(12:10):
and it could be while the times you get hit
by a pitch, guys have been hit by pitches many, many,
many many times in spring training games, So that part
of it you feel for al Tube. I love the
way he plays the game, Diaz, I'm a gigantic fan
of him. I mean, his energy level. I remember watching
too many times when he was with Seattle, how good
he wasn't and going over to the Mets and see
(12:31):
what he has done now and the excitement level he
brings to the Mets and baseball fans in general, even
when he walks out of the you know, out of
the bullpen and get ready to go in the games.
But those things happen, I mean, there's nothing you can
do about it. There's there's always freak injuries you know
when you play enough games, especially even in spring training,
you're playing every day there and that some things could
go wrong and that's what you hope to avoid. But
(12:53):
that's why you know, organizational's depth is so important for
every team, and that's why you play this game. But
I still reflect on it. I mean, how perfect of
an ending was it? You have Trout versus Otani. I
mean it's you can't even Hollywood can't even get that
script any better than that. I mean, it was perfect,
It really was. All right, let's talk about the elephant
(13:16):
in the room, which is johe Oltani and this possibly
could be his last season, is going to be a
free agent after this? And a couple thoughts. First, what
would you do if you were ownership the general manager,
because we saw something similar with Juan Soto where the
(13:37):
Nationals offered him four hundred and forty million dollars. Anybody
who says Baseball's dying mark is crazy four hundred and
forty million dollars guaranteed he turned it down and then
they immediately traded him. Do you have to make a
big offer to Oldtani and see where his head is
and maybe move him, or do you let him play
(13:58):
out the year. How do you how do you go
about this? Yeah, this even you know talking you know
Perry Menacing and general managers for the Angels, and Artie Morano,
the owner for the Angels. My feeling is Otani's going
to be wearing an anti uniform this entire season. They've
build a team now, and regardless of what other people
love to say, and for some reason they continue to
(14:18):
say this that the Angels need pitching. If you look
at their numbers, if you really delve into their numbers,
if people actually did their research, they were top ten
in baseball as far as starters era. I mean, they're
that good and are only better now. You saw stand
the ball on a huge stage. He struck out Trout
and Otany for Team Mexico and Reid Detmers he threw
a no hitter last year and immaculate inning. He's throwing
(14:40):
the ball even better in spring training. So you have
four outstanding arms right there. You got Tyler Anners that
they picked up from the Dodgers, who was an All
star last year, fifteen game winner in the ARRA under three.
So and the depth they added, so the team is going,
in my opinion, is as deep as I've seen, and
I've been knowing this now this is my seventeenth year.
So the feeling is and Showe has said this, if
(15:04):
the team is winning, that's going to make everything better.
Now that means there's a really good chance, he states,
with the Angels, I still feel there's a real good
possibility that the constant questions it will be difficult. And
Aaron Judge dealt with that all last year himself and
he was outstanding. I'm still shocked at how well he played,
especially playing for the Yankees and questions about you'll leave
(15:26):
it or not, but he went out did an amazing job.
So I expect show It to have even a better
year this year, especially when you saw him in that
WBC that you know there's going to be questions that
it's going to be you know, all that feeling that wow,
what do you do? You just let them go at
the end of the season. It's all about winning. I
think that's all they care about right now. I think
(15:48):
you're right to u with the Judge thing. So you
know where you turned. He turned out two hundred and
thirteen million. You know, as an older player who normally
doesn't get that kind of deal, you know what I mean.
At age thirty that was incredible. And then the perform
on that stage the Yankees were playing in meaningful games
that mattered. That was a testament to him. And I
(16:11):
think you're right, old Tony can can duplicate that. Yeah,
I mean, and his discipline is off the charts. And
seeing him and talking to him every day, and the
routines he goes through. It's thinking most people, when you're
asking enough, you're tired, you kind of think, well, maybe
I am Now. His first answer always a crossboarders. I
(16:32):
want to win. That's it. That's all you're gonna get
a problem. I want to win. And that's why I
think he's so unique. That's why we all joke around
and we all say it now he's a unicorn because
obviously anybody's doing what he's doing isn't real. So I mean,
it's a phenomenal. But sitting back and watching him performed
now as a pictured way he has. He has grown
(16:53):
exponentially as a pitcher and as a hitter too, And
there was big moments. If you look at his numbers,
it's runners in scoring position, they're they're best in the game.
The numbers when he's on the mount with runners in
scoring position are the best in the game as far
as preventing runs scored. So he's so unique, and he's driven,
and I think, and he says it all the time
(17:15):
to me, that he's just there. He wants to perform,
but he also knows that Mike it's Mike Trout's team.
And then and I think right now you're seeing Trout
more motivated than ever. When you have a player like
Trout motivated, I think it could be a really special
year for him as well. The pot the padres the
Angels really need, and I think baseball needs to see
(17:37):
these two guys in the postseason. We just sawt to
WBC the Angels not being a part of the postseason.
With such tremendous players as as Trout and Oltani, how
important is it for baseball? People want to see these
guys on the big stage. One hundred percent agree with
you on that one, Rob, And that's why I think
their goal this year, even though the whole conversation and
(18:00):
all went along was Arte Moreno was going to sell
the team, but he was also told Perry Manassy and
the GM to improve this team anyway possible and then
there was there was obviously some great names in a
shortstop position, and Trey Turner being one of them, and
obviously Carlos care and everything with him that you had
that one player, but he realized you needed a number
of players to really build out a roster. And when
(18:22):
you look at the really good teams, you know, the Astros,
the Dodgers, the Yankees, you have superstars, but you also
have very good players to supplement around. In other words,
you're making a movie. You have your stars, but you
also need your co stars. And I think that's what
he went out and did. When you bring in a Hunter,
renfro A, gr Shellow, Brandon dry A, Tyler Anderson, and
Carlos Estevis, I mean you all of a sudden now
(18:43):
have a very deep roster that if guys need a
day off, if guys get banged up, that you're still
gonna be okay. Anthony Rendon, you look back at twenty nineteen,
he was unreal for the Nationals. That's why they won
the World Series. And he looks incredibly healthy this year
and motivated to play the game. Where everyone's saying does
(19:03):
he I mean, does he have a lot left? I'm
telling you. He looks phenomenal, So you put him in there.
You have Otani, I mean Trout Otani, Rendon, Hunter, Renfro,
Taylor Warden in front of those guys, and then behind
him he got Jared Walsh's completely healthy. Right now, you
got Brandon Drury, Jiro Shelly could play a number of
different positions all of a sudden if you're a pitcher
(19:25):
going against the Angels. Unlike what we saw after some
injuries to them last year, it was a different team.
Now they're deep enough where they can have a few
guys take a day off, a couple of guys get
banged up, that they're still a very deep line up.
Our last thing with Mark Gubaza, of course, the former
Major league pitcher and Angel's color analysts on Bally Sports
(19:47):
last year, there were a lot of players I remember
CC Sabathia, maybe j D. Martinez, and maybe a couple
of others who thought that shoe Hey should be the
MVP every year because they both Everyone was saying, you know,
trying to pitch and be of that caliber, and of
course the kype of hitter he is. But Aaron Judge
(20:07):
won pretty easily the al MVP. I thought that was
the right choice despite what Old Tani did. Where are
you on that? Was that the right choice? You'd think
that Judge won it last year or was it really
Old Tani? Yeah? Wow, that is a great question of
(20:28):
Aaron Judge this season last year was off the charts
and always been a big fan of his many many
many years. But to do that on their that you know,
on that stage, is phenomenal. But that being said, what
showy and when people say games weren't as meaningful anytime
you take them out as a pitcher, it doesn't matter
(20:49):
if your team is Owen one sixty two. Everything you
do is meaningful. What he did at the plate, I mean,
I reflect back in these two games he had against
Kansas City. They were down, the Angels were down by
significant amount. He had two three run home runs, he
had eight RBI's, His emotion after his second home run
was unreal. And then the very next day he goes
out and goes eight inning. He strikes out a career
(21:09):
at thirteen. I mean, no human being does that. Is
he the MVP? Yes, I mean I think part of
it comes down to Barry Bonds should have won the
MVP way more than he did. But people get so like, oh, well,
he wanted so many times to vote for somebody else. Now,
Aaron Judge was incredibly good. So as much as I
think Shoeotani was the MVP and I would have voted
(21:30):
for him, I really didn't have a problem when Aaron
Judge win the MVP too, because he was that good.
But Showeotani. What he did is era, his offensive numbers,
everything about him, and it don't even get me into
how incredible fielding of a pitcher he is too. I mean,
he did everything like no other human being did on
the mount fielding his position he was, He's the MVP
(21:52):
every year were doing what he's doing, But there's always
a guy that says, hey, listen, don't forget me. And
I think I was Aaron Judge last year, so I
applaud him for his season. There's no one that I
thought these last two years was even close to what
shoeo Tani did. His name is Mark gubazaar Man. As
good as it gets, we appreciate you, the former major
league pitcher and of course catch them on Angels games
(22:14):
as the color analyst for Ballet Sports. Mark appreciate it.
Can't wait for the season I'm with you. I'm excited.
I think there are a lot of good teams, a
lot of good players, man, and that WBC has set
us up nicely to get the season Roland, So thanks
so much anytime, Rob, I'll tell you what. You're exactly right,
the WBC guy. Everyone's thinking, Okay, this is going to
be a great carry on. I just hope the players again,
(22:37):
hope the players and the fans have that same enthusiasm
every single night for baseball, because you know what, I'll
be doing that in the booth, no doubt. Stay well,
thanks for I appreciate it, man. I'll bring in the closer.
Here's why MLB is better than the NFL or NBA,
and it isn't even close. Reason number seven hundred and
(23:04):
fifty five why Major League Baseball is better than the
NBA and the NFL. You just saw it. You just
saw preseason baseball exhibition tournament that mattered, my goodness, gracious, really,
(23:26):
and the players cared. This wasn't some NBA All Star
game where nobody's playing defense and nobody cared because people
were afraid to get hurt. This wasn't the pro ball
where we were reduced to tag football. Flag football, whatever
you want to call it, because nobody wants to get
hurt and they don't want to play each other. Here
(23:46):
is competition. They weren't throwing underhand at the WBC. They
weren't say here, hit it, no, I don't care. I
don't care where you hit the ball. I don't care
you a home run. No. It was the ultimate degree
of competence, Hian, with something on the line, playing for
the fans, playing for your country, and playing for yourself.
(24:09):
And did you hear those crowds. The crowds were outstanding, unbelievable.
The Miami Marlins must have been sick to see their
house and their you know, stadium filled to the brim.
They wish they could get people in Miami to come
to their games. That was incredible And that's again why
baseball is king of the world. In the words of
(24:40):
New York TV legend the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you
for your time this time until next time. Rob Parker out,
he can't get this could be an inside the Parker
See you next week. Sad time, same bad station.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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